Current Organisation

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Current Job Title

Research Fellow

Biography

Project Title

Effect of a customized digital adherence tool on retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral treatment for children and adolescents living with HIV in Tanzania and Rwanda

EDCTP Project Call

Senior Fellowship Plus (SFP)

Host Organisation

Project Objectives

REMIND-KID has the aim to develop and test a customized digital adherence tool (DAT) for children and adolescents living with HIV in Tanzania and youth living with HIV in Malawi. The objectives of REMIND-KID are: I) To develop a customized digital adherence tool through mixed-methods-research to inform contents and timing of short message service (SMS) texts used together with an internet enabled medication dispenser II) To test the effectiveness of the customized DAT on retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral treatment through a randomized clinical trial and III) to increase research capacity in Tanzania and Malawi through supporting three female junior researchers in obtaining their MSc degree, two mid-career researchers, including the trainee fellow, in obtaining their PhD degree and two post doc researchers, including the senior fellow, in becoming leaders in the field of digital health and mixed methods research.

Study Design

Interventional

Project Summary

REMIND-KID has the aim to develop and test a customized digital adherence tool (DAT) for children and adolescents living with HIV in Tanzania and youth living with HIV in Malawi. The objectives of REMIND-KID are: I) To develop a customized digital adherence tool through mixedmethods-research to inform contents and timing of short message service (SMS) texts used together with an internet enabled medication dispenser II) To test the effectiveness of the customized DAT on retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral treatment through a randomized clinical trial and III) to increase research capacity in Tanzania and Malawi through supporting two junior researchers in obtaining their MSc degree, two mid-career researchers, including the trainee fellow, in obtaining their PhD degree and two post doc researchers, including the senior fellow, in becoming leaders in the field of digital health and mixed methods research. REMIND-KID is a two-stage research project comprising of (1) formative mixed methods research and (2) clinical trials in different target groups. These groups are HIV-uninfected children and their breastfeeding mothers, children living with HIV and their caregivers and adolescents (in Tanzania) and youth (in Malawi) living with HIV. In the formative mixed methods study we have analysed data of 60 in-depth interviews, 6 focus group discussions and 426 semi- structured interviews with pregnant and breastfeeding women, caregivers of children aged 0-14 and adolescents aged 15-19. Based on the results we have customized the DAT that we use in our trials. We will continue using the Wisepill box as the basis of our intervention. For each, group we have designed a different SMS structure to help remind individuals about taking their medication, coming to the clinic and educational messages. For breastfeeding women, the educational messages focus on nutrition of their infants including the need of exclusive breastfeeding, for children it also focuses on nutrition and for adolescents the messages also include education on sexual health issues. The DAT is tested on its effectiveness in a non-blinded randomized two-armed clinical trial in the different subgroups. Further, we build research capacity in Tanzania by having the senior fellow leading a team of junior to mid-career researchers, mentoring a post doc trajectory, 2 PhD candidates in their fourth year and two MSc students have finalized their training. The activities of REMIND-KID are arranged in 6 work packages which are (1) management and coordination, (2) formative mixed methods research, (3) clinical trial, (4) mentoring a trainee fellow in Malawi, (5) capacity building and training in Tanzania and (6) communication and dissemination. REMIND-KID will increase research capacity in Tanzania and Malawi. It will increase the number of highly qualified researchers at a junior and senior level, especially in social sciences. It will decrease the gender gap in research capacity as both the senior fellow and the trainee are female researchers. It will also contribute to decreasing regional disparity in research capacity by increasing the currently limited research capacity in Malawi. Furthermore, it will decrease the burden of PRD, through improving the management of HIV treatment of children and youth living with HIV contributing to SDG3.

Project Title

Effect of a customized digital adherence tool on retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral treatment for children and adolescents living with HIV in Tanzania and Rwanda

EDCTP Project Call

Senior Fellowship Plus (SFP)

Host Organisation