title: Correlates of mobile phone use in HIV care: Results from a cross-sectional study in South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a major disease burden worldwide. Challenges include retaining patients in care and optimizing adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). One possible solution is using mobile phones as reminder tools. The main aim of our study was to identify patient demographic groups least likely to use mobile phones as reminder tools in HIV care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data came from a cross-sectional study at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto Township, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive questionnaire was used to interview 883 HIV infected patients receiving ART. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the influence of age, gender, education level, marital status, number of sexual partners in the last three months, income level, and employment status on the use of mobile phone as reminders for clinic appointments and taking medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient groups significantly associated with being less likely to use mobile phones as clinic appointment reminders were: a) patients 45 years or older, b) women, and c) patients with only primary or no schooling level. Patient groups significantly associated with being less likely to use mobile phones as medication reminders were: a) patients 35 years or older and b) patients with a lower monthly income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this setting being a woman, of older age, lower education, and socio-economic level were risk factors for the low usage of mobile phones as reminder aids. Future studies should assimilate reasons for this, such that patient-specific barriers to implementation are identified and interventions can be tailored.
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Naieya
authors: N
authors: Madhvani
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Longinetti
authors: Unit of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Santacatterina
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Birger C
authors: BC
authors: Forsberg
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada; Global Health, Universite du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Québec, Canada.
authors: Ziad
authors: Z
authors: El-Khatib
keywords: HIV; Patient compliance; Reminder systems; South Africa; Telemedicine