An mHealth Education Intervention for encouraging STI testing uptake

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Over million people in the United States are infected with HIV AIDS African American adolescents AAAs represented of HIV AIDS cases among to year olds In addition almost of adolescents with HIV do not know they are infected Testing for HIV may result in earlier diagnosis and reduced likelihood of transmission In this study our team proposes to complete our Phase SAAFE game an age gender and culturally relevant mobile based HIV AIDS education dating simulation The month study includes focus group paper mockup mobile application design development and pilot testing of the SAAFE game at two sites in the District of Columbia and Alabama Our team includes expertise in developmental psychology and developmental science sexual health maternal and child health public policy community based participatory research quantitative and qualitative methodology and mobile development The long term product goal is to develop the SAAFE product to be user friendly culturally relevant cross platform and evidence based mobile game available to HIV prevention interventions for adolescents to educate them in positive sexual health beliefs and practices If successful the study will have significant impact in informing health care practitioners on leveraging theory driven evidence based gaming approach for improving health outcomes in HIV and other STIs prevention intervention PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE SAAFE is a theory driven evidence based and culturally relevant mobile game with innovative game features offers a cost effective approach to promoting adoption of healthy sexual behaviors in adolescents It is designed to improve adolescentsandapos perceptions of sexual health risks increase adolescentsandapos motivation to adopt specific protective factors namely use a condom practice abstinence partner with others who have more positive sexual and reproductive health practices and get testing for STIs and HIV and increase adolescentsandapos adoption of specific protective sexual health practices