Do Short Message Reminders Improve ART Adherence? Randomized Control Trial among HIV Clients - Kadoma (Zimbabwe) - KAMP Study Protocol

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJCR.2014.04.01.Art004

Authors : Daniel Chirundu, Pamela N. Magande, Tapesana S., Gershem Madzingaidzo, Mduluza T

Abstract:

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among clients seeking care at Kadoma City Integrated TB and HIV Care Site has been documented to be 86% as opposed to the expected adherence of 95%. The Zimbabwe 2015 survey for Early Warning Indicators for HIV drug resistance identified Kadoma as a hotspot. Low level adherence to antiretroviral therapy is associated with poor clinical outcomes. We set out to evaluate the efficacy of cell phone –supported short message reminders compared to standard care on adherence among clients receiving antiretroviral therapy at Kadoma, Zimbabwe.
Methods: The study design is a randomized controlled trial. Patients on ART at Rimuka Integrated TB and HIV Care Site will be randomized to receive either a structured weekly text message in addition to standard care (the intervention) or standard care support alone (the control). Respondents will be evaluated at baseline, six months and 12 months after recruitment into the study. Primary outcomes are self-reported adherence to ART and CD4 cell counts at twelve months scheduled follow-up. Secondary outcomes will be opportunistic infections, weight, body mass index (BMI) and retention on ART. Primary analysis will be by ‘intention-to-treat’. 
Discussion: The mHealth concept could be an innovative method in prompting adherence to anti-retroviral therapy in poor resource settings. The trial will evaluate the efficacy of a weekly personalized SMS reminder on adherence among clients on ART at Rimuka Integrated Tuberculosis and HIV clinic Kadoma, Zimbabwe.
Keywords: Adherence, ART, HIV, Kadoma, SMS, RCT

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