Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study
Background: There is a public health need to tackle high levels of undiagnosed (or late diagnosed) HIV amongst the UK's African communities. This research aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a text messaging intervention to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst this pop...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Wiley
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39026/ |
| _version_ | 1848795745282424832 |
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| author | Evans, Catrin Turner, K. Blake, Holly Juma, A. Suggs, S. Occa, A. |
| author_facet | Evans, Catrin Turner, K. Blake, Holly Juma, A. Suggs, S. Occa, A. |
| author_sort | Evans, Catrin |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: There is a public health need to tackle high levels of undiagnosed (or late diagnosed) HIV amongst the UK's African communities. This research aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a text messaging intervention to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst this population in a UK city.
Methods: Participatory research adopting a mixed-methods design. Four distinct stages included:
[1] Formative Research: Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with diverse sections of the African community to assess perceptions about HIV and to inform message development (n=48). The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as an organising framework for data analysis and interpretation.
[2] Message Development: SMS messages were developed based on HBM constructs, existing HIV campaigns and FGD findings, and tailored according to language, gender and religion. 12 HIV-related and 12 generic health-related text messages were developed and piloted using elicitation interview processes.
[3] Intervention and outcomes: 172 participants were recruited. They received 2 messages per week for 12 weeks. Data was collected in pre and post questionnaire surveys assessing uptake of HIV testing, HIV-related attitudes and knowledge and perceived general health.
[4] Evaluation: Acceptability and meaningfulness of the intervention were explored via semi-structured telephone interviews (n=21). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:36:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-39026 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:36:58Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-390262020-05-04T17:06:21Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39026/ Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study Evans, Catrin Turner, K. Blake, Holly Juma, A. Suggs, S. Occa, A. Background: There is a public health need to tackle high levels of undiagnosed (or late diagnosed) HIV amongst the UK's African communities. This research aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a text messaging intervention to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst this population in a UK city. Methods: Participatory research adopting a mixed-methods design. Four distinct stages included: [1] Formative Research: Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with diverse sections of the African community to assess perceptions about HIV and to inform message development (n=48). The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as an organising framework for data analysis and interpretation. [2] Message Development: SMS messages were developed based on HBM constructs, existing HIV campaigns and FGD findings, and tailored according to language, gender and religion. 12 HIV-related and 12 generic health-related text messages were developed and piloted using elicitation interview processes. [3] Intervention and outcomes: 172 participants were recruited. They received 2 messages per week for 12 weeks. Data was collected in pre and post questionnaire surveys assessing uptake of HIV testing, HIV-related attitudes and knowledge and perceived general health. [4] Evaluation: Acceptability and meaningfulness of the intervention were explored via semi-structured telephone interviews (n=21). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Wiley 2015-04-20 Article PeerReviewed Evans, Catrin, Turner, K., Blake, Holly, Juma, A., Suggs, S. and Occa, A. (2015) Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study. HIV Medicine, 16 (S2). p. 54. ISSN 1468-1293 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hiv.12265/abstract doi:10.1111/hiv.12265 doi:10.1111/hiv.12265 |
| spellingShingle | Evans, Catrin Turner, K. Blake, Holly Juma, A. Suggs, S. Occa, A. Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| title | Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst
African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| title_full | Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst
African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst
African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst
African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| title_short | Text messaging to encourage uptake of HIV testing amongst
African communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| title_sort | text messaging to encourage uptake of hiv testing amongst
african communities: findings from a theory based feasibility study |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39026/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39026/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39026/ |