High Interest in the Use of mHealth Platform for HIV Prevention among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Nepal

AbstractMobile technology growth in Nepal offers promising opportunities for using mobile health (mHealth) interventions to facilitate HIV prevention efforts. However, little is known about access and utilization of communication technology and their willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention services in Nepal. We conducted a cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling survey of 250 MSM in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal from October to December 2022. We collected information on participant characteristics, HIV risk-related behaviors, ownership, or access to and frequency of use of communication technology (phones, tablets, laptops, and computers), and willingness to use mHealth to access HIV prevention services. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Almost all participants had smartphones with the internet (231/250, 92.4%) and accessed the internet daily (219/250, 87.6%) on the smartphone (236/250, 94.4%). The median score for willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention was 10 (IQR: 3 to 17). Willingness to use mHealth was higher among those participants with a high school or above education ( β = 0.223,p =< 0.001), had experienced violence ( β = 0.231,p = 0.006), and had moderate to severe depressive symptoms ( β = 0.223,p =< 0.001). However, monthly income above NPR 20,000 (USD 150) ( β= -0.153,p = 0.008), disclosure of their sexual orientation to anyone ( β= -0.159,p =< 0.007), and worry about being negatively judg...
Source: Journal of Community Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research