Effect of Mobile Health on Modifying the Behaviouraland Physiological Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases in Adult HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Fako Division

Tah Aldof Yoah^1, , Nde Fon Peter¹, Tendongfor Nicholas¹, Enow Orock George², Anna Longdoh Njunda³, Njukang Ernest Nkem⁴ and Kah Emmanuel Nji⁴

¹Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health sciences,University of Buea, Cameroon

²Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon

³Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon

⁴Department of Public Health and Hygiene, University of Buea, Cameroon

Cite this paper:
Tah Aldof Yoah, Nde Fon Peter, Tendongfor Nicholas, Enow Orock George, Anna Longdoh Njunda, Njukang Ernest Nkem and Kah Emmanuel Nji. Effect of Mobile Health on Modifying the Behaviouraland Physiological Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases in Adult HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Fako Division. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2023; 11(1):1-10. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-11-1-1

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have reached epidemic proportion among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and this could have a negative bearing on the quality of life and survival of these patients. The incorporation of a target specially dedicated to NCDs within the goal number 3 of the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals indicates the importance the world now accords to the prevention and control of these diseases. Mobile phone technology is increasingly viewed as a promising communication channel that can be utilized for primary prevention of NCDs by promoting behavioural changes and risk factor modification. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of mobile Health on modifying the behavioural and physiological risk factors of non-communicable diseases in adult HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon. Methodology: A non-ramdomised hospital-based control trial was conducted on 275 subjects, over a period of one year. A mHealth intervention package consisting of weekly text messages and monthly telephone calls addressing lifestyle modification for risk factors of NCDs was given to the intervention group, compared to no intervention package in control group. Data was entered in SPSS 25 and analyzed using stata 13. Chi-square test, ANOVA and paired sample t-test were used for the analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The mHealth intervention significantly increased the mean number of fruits/vegetable servings a day (2.5 to 4.2, p<0.001), mean physical activity level in MET-min/wk (243.3 to 301.1, p<0.001) and the physical domain of quality of life (68.3 to 70.9, p=0.021) in the intervention group but not in the control group. This intervention equally significantly decreased the mean BMI (26.4 to 25.7, p=0.004) and the SBP (125.4 to 124.0, p=0.003) in the intervention but not in the control group. Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated the usefulness of mHealth for health promotion and lifestyle modification among adult HIV patients on ART. With the growing burden of NCDs among PLHIV, such cost effective and innovative measures will be needed that can easily reach the masses.

Keywords:
effect mHealth behavioural and physiological risk factors Quality of Life HIV ART Fako Division

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