Longitudinal Effects of a Smartphone Game (Tumaini) for HIV Prevention Among Kenyan Adolescents: 45-Month...

African adolescents and young adults account for a disproportionate number of new HIV infections. There is an urgent need to identify scalable and cost-effective behavioral HIV prevention strategies for this population. Using a condom at first sex is associated with a higher likelihood of consistent use later. Tumaini ("Hope for the Future" in Swahili; Emory University) is a choose-your-own-adventure smartphone game that has been shown to reduce the risk of unprotected first sex by end line in a 45-month randomized controlled trial in western Kenya.

This study aimed to assess the impact of Tumaini on proximal outcomes related to condom use at first sex (specifically, behavioral intentions, self-efficacy, attitudes, and knowledge) longitudinally across mid-adolescence in the above trial.

Adolescent participants (n=996, mean baseline age 14, SD 0.56 years) were randomized 1:1 to receive either a smartphone loaded with Tumaini or an attention-control math game for 5 to 7 weeks at 3 time points (mean age 14.0, SD 0.56; 15.3, SD 0.55; and 16.0, SD 0.56 years, respectively). They completed a behavioral survey at 13 time points, through mean age 17.7 (SD 0.56) years. Using generalized estimating equations and controlling for age at baseline, we modeled mean scores (overall and stratified by gender) on a range of condom-related survey items over time to assess mean differences at specific time points. We applied appropriate Bonferroni corrections to inferences about cross-arm differences in mean changes relative to baseline at 4 time points (after each intervention period and at end line; α=.05/4) and within-arm mean changes relative to baseline at each of the 12 post-baseline time points (α=.05/12). Analyses were conducted as intent-to-treat.

At end line, 97.8% (n=974) of the sample had been retained. Participants in both arms dedicated a mean total of >30 hours to their assigned game. There was significant improvement across all condom-related proximal outcomes in the intervention arm relative to the control arm immediately after initial intervention exposure. For almost all outcomes, a significant cross-arm difference was also present at end line and for most outcomes at the 2 intervening comparison time points. Some outcomes saw stronger intervention effects on female participants (eg, self-efficacy to refuse unprotected sex) or male participants (eg, knowledge that condoms are an effective way to prevent HIV). In each arm, intention to use a condom at first sex was consistently higher among male participants; however, female intervention-arm scores overtook male control-arm scores following initial intervention exposure.

Tumaini significantly improved theory-based proximal outcomes related to condom use, with effects sustained 45 months post initial exposure and 16 months post most recent exposure. Adolescents benefited from even short-term exposure, though repeated exposure generally sustained and reinforced intervention effects. As access to smartphones increases, Tumaini has potential for high scalability and impact on condom-related outcomes.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04437667; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04437667.

RR2-10.2196/35117.