The impact of short message service reminders or peer home visits on adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral load suppression among HIV-Infected adolescents in Cameroon: a randomized controlled trial.
Alice Ketchaji, Joseph Fokam, Felix Assah, Francis Ateba, Martial Lantche Wandji, Joelle Nounouce Bouba Pamen, Godfroy Rostant Pokam Djoko, Cedric Dylan Nana Seugnou, Emmanuel Kah, Alain Fouda Atangana, Jerome Ateudjieu
{"title":"The impact of short message service reminders or peer home visits on adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral load suppression among HIV-Infected adolescents in Cameroon: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Alice Ketchaji, Joseph Fokam, Felix Assah, Francis Ateba, Martial Lantche Wandji, Joelle Nounouce Bouba Pamen, Godfroy Rostant Pokam Djoko, Cedric Dylan Nana Seugnou, Emmanuel Kah, Alain Fouda Atangana, Jerome Ateudjieu","doi":"10.1186/s12981-025-00746-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral load suppression (VLS) constitute one of the key challenges to control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially during adolescence. This trial aimed at assessing the impact of short message services (SMS) or peer home visits (PHV) on adherence to ART and VL suppression among adolescents living with HIV (ALWHIV) in Cameroon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted from July 2018 to February 2019 at the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde. Eligible ALWHIV (15-19 years), with a fully disclosed HIV status, with availability of phone and guardian's consent, were randomly assigned to receive either daily SMS or bi-weekly PHV for a six-months period. The control-group received standard of care according to the national guidelines. Study investigators and participants were not blinded to the interventions group allocation, and no adverse events or side effects were observed. Adjusted logistic regression was used to assess the impact of interventions on outcomes. The study was approved by The Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry with PACTR201904582515723 at ( www.pactr.org ).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adherence to ART increased in the PHV (aRR: 4.3; 95% CI: 2.2-8.3; p < 0.001) and SMS (aRR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1-5.3; p < 0.001) groups compared to the control-group. Likewise, VL suppression was higher in PHV (aRR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9-7.5 p < 0.001) and SMS (aRR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.8-5.4; p < 0.001) groups compared to the control-group. Based on CI, both interventions showed similar benefits on improving adherence and VLS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among ALHIV, SMS or PHV contribute substantially to improving adherence and VL suppression among ALWHIV. Implementing such strategies would support efforts in eliminating pediatric AIDS in low- and middle-income countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":7503,"journal":{"name":"AIDS Research and Therapy","volume":"22 1","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12046915/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"AIDS Research and Therapy","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-025-00746-4","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral load suppression (VLS) constitute one of the key challenges to control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially during adolescence. This trial aimed at assessing the impact of short message services (SMS) or peer home visits (PHV) on adherence to ART and VL suppression among adolescents living with HIV (ALWHIV) in Cameroon.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted from July 2018 to February 2019 at the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde. Eligible ALWHIV (15-19 years), with a fully disclosed HIV status, with availability of phone and guardian's consent, were randomly assigned to receive either daily SMS or bi-weekly PHV for a six-months period. The control-group received standard of care according to the national guidelines. Study investigators and participants were not blinded to the interventions group allocation, and no adverse events or side effects were observed. Adjusted logistic regression was used to assess the impact of interventions on outcomes. The study was approved by The Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry with PACTR201904582515723 at ( www.pactr.org ).
Results: Adherence to ART increased in the PHV (aRR: 4.3; 95% CI: 2.2-8.3; p < 0.001) and SMS (aRR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1-5.3; p < 0.001) groups compared to the control-group. Likewise, VL suppression was higher in PHV (aRR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9-7.5 p < 0.001) and SMS (aRR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.8-5.4; p < 0.001) groups compared to the control-group. Based on CI, both interventions showed similar benefits on improving adherence and VLS.
Conclusions: Among ALHIV, SMS or PHV contribute substantially to improving adherence and VL suppression among ALWHIV. Implementing such strategies would support efforts in eliminating pediatric AIDS in low- and middle-income countries.
期刊介绍：
AIDS Research and Therapy publishes articles on basic science, translational, clinical, social, epidemiological, behavioral and educational sciences articles focused on the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, and the search for the cure. The Journal publishes articles on novel and developing treatment strategies for AIDS as well as on the outcomes of established treatment strategies. Original research articles on animal models that form an essential part of the AIDS treatment research are also considered
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
