Use of Smartphones to Increase Safe Sexual Behavior in Youths at Risk for HIV

Abstract

In Mexico, young people continue to experience problems due to a lack of correct and consistent condom use during sexual intercourse. Objective: to evaluate the effect of a randomized controlled clinical trial with the use of smartphones to increase safe sex intentions and safe sexual behavior. Methods: experimental design with two treatment groups with 177 young people who requested the rapid HIV test in a non-governmental organization in the city of Monterrey, Mexico. The experimental group was given Respect M-Health with the use of mobile devices; the control group was given similar counseling without the use of mobile technology and 8 pencil and paper instruments were used. Results: the effect of the experimental group was greater in safe sexual behavior reflected in the means at pre-test M=64.80 (SD=1.86), post-test M=85.33 (SD=1.54), and at 30 days M=87.40 (SD=1.52), and in the safe sex intentions factor at pre-test M=78.50 (SD=3.07), post-test M=94.70 (SD=2.46), and at 30 days M=95.74 (SD=2.29). Conclusions: Smartphone use was an effective tool as a support to increase safe sexual behavior in youth.