Mobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Philip
dc.contributor.authorTolla, Tsidiso
dc.contributor.authorMarcus, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorBekker, Linda-Gail
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-10T09:23:59Z
dc.date.available2019-12-10T09:23:59Z
dc.date.issued2019-08-19
dc.date.updated2019-08-25T03:22:52Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic is growing rapidly among South African adolescents and young adults (AYA). Although HIV counselling and testing, HIV prevention and treatment options are widely available, many AYA delay health-seeking until illness occurs, demonstrating a need for youth responsive, integrated sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS). While feasibility and cost-effectiveness have been evaluated, acceptability of mobile clinics among AYA has yet to be established. The objective of this study was to investigate patient acceptability of mobile AYA SRHS and compare mobile clinic usage and HIV outcomes with nearby conventional clinics. Methods Patients presenting to a mobile clinic in Cape Town were invited to participate in an acceptability study of a mobile clinic after using the service. A trained researcher administered an acceptability questionnaire. Mobile clinic medical records during the study period were compared with the records of AYA attending four clinics in the same community. Results Three hundred three enrolled participants (16–24 years, 246 (81.2%) female) rated mobile AYA SRHS acceptability highly (median = 4,6 out of 5), with 90% rating their experience as better or much better than conventional clinics. The mobile clinic, compared to conventional clinics, attracted more men (26% v 13%, p < 0,000), younger patients (18 v 19 years, p < 0,000), and yielded more HIV diagnoses (4% v 2%, p < 0,000). Conclusions Given the high ratings of acceptability, and the preference for mobile clinics over conventional primary health clinics, the scalability of mobile clinics should be investigated as part of a multipronged approach to improve the uptake of SRHS diagnostic, prevention and treatment options for AYA.
dc.identifier.apacitationSmith, P., Tolla, T., Marcus, R., & Bekker, L. (2019). Mobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30702en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSmith, Philip, Tsidiso Tolla, Rebecca Marcus, and Linda-Gail Bekker "Mobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30702en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBMC Health Services Research. 2019 Aug 19;19(1):584
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Smith, Philip AU - Tolla, Tsidiso AU - Marcus, Rebecca AU - Bekker, Linda-Gail AB - Abstract Background The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic is growing rapidly among South African adolescents and young adults (AYA). Although HIV counselling and testing, HIV prevention and treatment options are widely available, many AYA delay health-seeking until illness occurs, demonstrating a need for youth responsive, integrated sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS). While feasibility and cost-effectiveness have been evaluated, acceptability of mobile clinics among AYA has yet to be established. The objective of this study was to investigate patient acceptability of mobile AYA SRHS and compare mobile clinic usage and HIV outcomes with nearby conventional clinics. Methods Patients presenting to a mobile clinic in Cape Town were invited to participate in an acceptability study of a mobile clinic after using the service. A trained researcher administered an acceptability questionnaire. Mobile clinic medical records during the study period were compared with the records of AYA attending four clinics in the same community. Results Three hundred three enrolled participants (16–24 years, 246 (81.2%) female) rated mobile AYA SRHS acceptability highly (median = 4,6 out of 5), with 90% rating their experience as better or much better than conventional clinics. The mobile clinic, compared to conventional clinics, attracted more men (26% v 13%, p < 0,000), younger patients (18 v 19 years, p < 0,000), and yielded more HIV diagnoses (4% v 2%, p < 0,000). Conclusions Given the high ratings of acceptability, and the preference for mobile clinics over conventional primary health clinics, the scalability of mobile clinics should be investigated as part of a multipronged approach to improve the uptake of SRHS diagnostic, prevention and treatment options for AYA. DA - 2019-08-19 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Acceptability KW - Mobile clinic KW - Epidemiology KW - Usability KW - HIV KW - Differentiated healthcare LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Mobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa TI - Mobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30702 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4423-4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/30702
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSmith P, Tolla T, Marcus R, Bekker L. Mobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30702.en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.rights.holderThe Author(s).
dc.subjectAcceptability
dc.subjectMobile clinic
dc.subjectEpidemiology
dc.subjectUsability
dc.subjectHIV
dc.subjectDifferentiated healthcare
dc.titleMobile sexual health services for adolescents: investigating the acceptability of youth-directed mobile clinic services in Cape Town, South Africa
dc.typeJournal Article
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
12913_2019_Article_4423.pdf
Size:
581.6 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
0 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles