A Mobile Phone Game to Prevent HIV Among Young Africans

Emory University

Status: Completed

Conditions: HIV/AIDS

Treatments: Behavioral: Tumaini Mobile Phone Game

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03054051

5R34MH106368 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

IRB00081150

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project will test the feasibility of an electronic game to prevent HIV among African preadolescents, delivered via inexpensive Android smart phones. In order to collect feasibility data for a future randomized controlled trial, this study involves the pilot-testing of the intervention with a sample of young people in Nyanza region, Kenya, where 11.4% of young women ages 15-24 are HIV-infected. This feasibility study will be carried out with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Full description

This project will test the feasibility of an electronic game for preadolescents, delivered via inexpensive Android smart phones. The game is informed by socio-behavioral and pedagogical theories, evidence-based practice, and formative research on youth sexual culture in sub-Saharan Africa. It is designed to: educate young players, ages 11-14, about sexual health and HIV/AIDS; build risk-reduction skills and related self-efficacy for prevention of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy; challenge harmful gender norms and HIV stigma; and foster dialogue with parents and caregivers.

The proposed feasibility test will be conducted in Western Kenya. Sixty preadolescents will be enrolled in the trial, 30 in the study arm and 30 in the control arm. The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has established community advisory boards (CABs) in Kisumu, which will be available to the proposed study.

Data collection will take place at KEMRI offices, health clinics, or in the meeting room of a local community-based organization (CBO). In addition, data on game-play will be automatically collected on mobile phones given to preadolescent study participants.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 11 to 14 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 11-14 at time of recruitment
• Resident in Nyanza region, Kenya
• Having basic literacy in English
• Only one child enrolled per family

Exclusion criteria

• Aged <11 or >14 at time of recruitment
• Not resident in Nyanza region, Kenya
• Without basic literacy in English
• Sibling to a child already enrolled in the study
• Participant in formative research to inform the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Tumaini Mobile Phone Game

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomized to this arm will be invited to play the Tumaini game.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Tumaini Mobile Phone Game

Standard of Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants randomized to this arm will receive no intervention beyond the current standard of care for sexual education.