Lu Dedoo

Background

As populations in sub-Saharan Africa approach epidemic control of HIV, there is a need to repivot from the population-based strategies and focus on a few lagging subpopulations, such as adolescents and paediatrics, through strategies targeted at improving their outcomes.

Recent evidence highlights some gaps in the HIV continuum for these subpopulations, including poor viral load suppression, poor adherence, and low retention in care, particularly in resource-poor, high-burden settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. This underscores the need to address two critical priorities: first, PLWH at risk of treatment failure must be identified more rapidly than current systems allow, before they leave care or develop drug resistance; second, these patients need support to keep them in care at optimal adherence levels from the day they start ART. 

UNAIDS’s 90:90:90 is a treatment target to help end the AIDS epidemic. It stated that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and that 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. Nigeria has met the first two 90s and is currently close to achieving epidemic control. The Nigerian HIV/AIDS Indicators and Impact Survey (NAIIS) has revealed that Nigeria can achieve 95:95:95 targets if all hands are on deck. As Nigeria gets close to achieving epidemic control, all efforts are focused on improving patients’ outcomes and achieving the 3^rd 95%. The most important determinant for achieving the 3rd 95% is adherence to antiretroviral therapy. At present day, despite the fact that coverage is much better with the adult population, children and youth are not doing as well, hence youth are at a high risk of medication non-adherence. There are several factors associated with why an individual may not be medication adherent. Those factors can include stigmatization, age, financial status, psychosocial factors, lower levels of education and structural issues

The usage of mobile phones to access health information has exploded in popularity in Nigeria. In Nigeria, there are 76 mobile phones in use per 100 people (www.gapminder.org).  With an increase in access to technology, Nigerian youth can now connect with health resources right at their fingertips. Furthermore, mobile phone solutions are increasingly being used in the detection, prevention, and treatment of HIV. The commonest and simplest mobile phone solution presently being utilized is use of SMS. With the advent of smartphones, there is an increase in access to technology, making this a viable support mechanism, especially for younger people.

Necessary research has been done to ensure the effectiveness of Lu Dedoo and the lasting impacts it will leave on the community. The Lu Dedoo team has explored the most effective medication apps based on the available literature comparing the effectiveness of different medication adherence applications in use.  One of these medication adherence apps stood out to the Lu Dedoo team as a promising tool to leverage. MASI, an app adapted from HealthMpowerment, has already been piloted in Cape Town, South Africa to support perinatally-infected HIV-positive adolescents. Given the similarities to MASI, the Lu Dedoo pilot study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a locally adapted version of MASI and an information only version of MASI on ART-naïve adolescent patients commencing ART in Makurdi local government area in Benue state, Nigeria.