title: High mobile phone ownership, but low Internet and email usage among pregnant, HIV-infected women attending antenatal care in Johannesburg.
abstract: We investigated mobile phone usage amongst HIV-positive pregnant women attending antenatal services in a primary care clinic in Johannesburg (n = 50). We conducted a semi-structured interview and asked them about their mobile phone, Internet and email use. The median age of the women was 28 years, 36% had moved one or more times in the past year, and most were employed or recently employed, albeit earning low wages. Nearly all women (94%) reported that they did not share their phone and 76% of the SIM cards were registered to the woman herself. The median time with the current phone was one year (range 1 month-6 years) and the median time with the current phone number was three years (range 1 month-13 years). Even though 42% of the participants were from outside South Africa, they all had mobile phone numbers local to South Africa. About one-third of respondents reported Internet use (30%) and about one-fifth reported using email (18%). Overall, 20% accessed the Internet and 10% accessed email on their mobile phone. Mobile phone interventions are feasible amongst HIV-positive pregnant women and may be useful in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). Email and Internet-based interventions may not yet be appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA kate.clouse@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clouse
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Sheree R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Rie
authors.affiliation: Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Sten H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Vermund
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Audrey E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pettifor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult