CyberSenga: Internet-based HIV Prevention in Uganda

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Sexual Abstinence; Condom Use
• Interventions: Behavioral: CyberSenga

• Registration Number: NCT00906178
• Lead Sponsor: Center for Innovative Public Health Research

Brief Summary

The investigators propose to design and test an Internet-based HIV prevention program for adolescents in Uganda.

Detailed Description

HIV/AIDS is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Despite aggressive advances in HIV prevention efforts, recent data suggest that HIV prevalence is increasing generally, and HIV knowledge, a direct contributor to behavior, is on the decline among young people specifically as compared to a decade ago.

The Internet is a promising mode of intervention delivery in resource poor-settings because the costs associated with scaling up are minimal; dissemination online is the same if one person or 100,000 people use the program. Just as important, it provides access to important health information in a stigma-free, anonymous atmosphere. Our recent data indicate that 45% of adolescents in Mbarara, Uganda have used the Internet, 78% of whom went online at least once in the previous week. Eighty-one percent of respondents in the same survey indicated they would go to an HIV prevention web site if it existed. Based upon these data, we propose to develop a culturally appropriate, Internet-based HIV prevention program designed specifically for Ugandan adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years. Our specific aims are as follows:

Specific Aim 1: Design a 6-hour, Internet-based HIV prevention program for adolescents. Content will be culturally tailored to the HIV preventive information, motivation, and behavioral skills needs of Ugandan adolescents.

Specific Aim 2: Test the intervention in a randomized controlled trial (n=500) among adolescents attending grades Secondary 1-4 (similar to US high school grades 8th - 11th) at day schools in Mbarara.

This project has the potential to develop low-cost and salable interventions to HIV transmission risk behaviors among adolescents in Uganda.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-08
• Study First Submitted: 2009-05-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-05-20
• Study First Posted: 2009-05-21
• Primary Completion: 2011-10
• Study Completion: 2011-10
• Results First Submitted: 2016-03-29
• Status Verified: 2016-06
• Results First Submitted QC: 2016-06-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-06-29
• Results First Posted: 2016-08-11
• Last Update Posted: 2016-08-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 366

Inclusion Criteria

• Enrollment in grades Secondary 1 through 4 at a partner secondary school
• Having used a computer or the Internet at least once in the past year
• Not having been part of the intervention development activities
• Caregiver informed permission and adolescent informed assent

Exclusion Criteria

• none

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
CyberSenga	CyberSenga	6-module HIV prevention program tailored for adolescents in Uganda

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sexual Abstinence	6-months post-intervention	Not having had vaginal or anal sex in the past three months
Sex Without a Condom as Assessed by Self-report	6-months post-intervention	Unprotected sex (i.e., vaginal or anal sex without a condom) in the past three months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Abstinence at Three-month Follow-up	3 months post-intervention	Sexual abstinence (i.e., not having vaginal or anal sex) in the past 90 days
Unprotected Sex at Three-month Follow-up	3 months post-intervention	Ever had vaginal or anal sex without a condom in the past 90 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Internet Solutions for Kids Uganda, Limited; 🇺🇬 Mbarara, Uganda