Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025;25(4):481-495.
doi: 10.1080/14681811.2024.2357223. Epub 2024 Jun 10.

WhatsApp-based sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV: lessons learned from an mHealth pilot intervention in South Africa

Scarlett Bergam  1 , Thobekile Sibaya  1 , Casiel T Gethers  2 , Nompumelelo Ndlela  1 , Mpume Kuzwayo  1 , Vincent C Marconi  2   3 , Jessica E Haberer  4   5 , Moherndran Archary  1 , Brian C Zanoni  2   3   6
Affiliations

WhatsApp-based sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV: lessons learned from an mHealth pilot intervention in South Africa

Scarlett Bergam et al. Sex Educ. 2025.

Abstract

Adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV in South Africa have limited access to relevant sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education. Mobile health (mHealth) can discreetly deliver such education but has not been tested with members of this population. In this study, we describe the effects of an mHealth intervention to support transition to adult care-Interactive Transition Support for Adolescents with HIV (InTSHA)-on SRH attitudes. Between May 2021 and February 2022, we enrolled adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV aged 15-19 from a government clinic in urban KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Baseline and six-month SRH questionnaires were adapted from a WHO adolescent SRH survey, consisting of nine positively worded items on a four-point Likert scale. Transcripts of the mHealth intervention modules were thematically analysed. Of 80 participants enrolled, 47 completed the SRH survey at both time points (mean age: 17.2 years); 25 (53.2%) were female and 19 (40.4%) were randomised to InTSHA. Likert scores improved from baseline to follow-up for the InTSHA group for specific SRH questions, overlapping with the frequency that topics such as 'Defining Sexuality', 'Discussing Sex with Caregivers', and 'Comfort Saying No to Sex'-were discussed by adolescents. mHealth is a tool for interactive SRH education that should be further developed.

Keywords: adolescent HIV; adolescent sexual health; mHealth; sexual health education.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Ahmed Tanima. 2020. “Effect of mHealth Tool on Knowledge Regarding Reproductive Health of School Going Adolescent Girls: A Before-After Quasi-Experimental Study.” BMJ Open 10: e036656. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ankunda Racheal, Atuyambe Lynn Muhimbuura, and Kiwanuka Noah. 2016. “Sexual Risk Related Behaviour Among Youth Living with HIV in Central Uganda: Implications for HIV Prevention.” The Pan African Medical Journal 24: 49. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bergam Scarlett, Kuo Caroline, Atujuna Millicent, Pellowski Jennifer, Mtukushe Bulelwa, Ndevu-Qwabe Nontembeko, Mtiwane Mluleki, et al. 2022. ‘“We Should Be Taught Self-Respect, Self-Confidence and Self-Love”: Youth Perspectives of Adult Influences on Their Sexuality and Relationships Among South African Adolescents Living With HIV.” Frontiers in Reproductive Health 4: 913170. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bergam Scarlett, Sibaya Thobekile, Ndela Nompumelelo, Kyzwayo Mpume, Fomo Messaline, Goldstein Madeleine, Marconi Vincent, Haberer Jessica, Archary Moherndran, and Zanoni Brian. 2022. ‘“I am not Shy Anymore”: A Qualitative Study of the Role of an Interactive mHealth Intervention on Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of South African Adolescents with Perinatal HIV.’ Reproductive Health 19: 217. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023. “What Works in Schools: Sexual Health Education”. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/whatworks/what-works-sexual-health-educ...