Mobile phone applications for the care and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases: a review.
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Date
2013-01-07
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile phone applications apps provide a new platform for delivering tailored human immunodeficiency virus HIV and sexually transmitted disease STD prevention and care OBJECTIVE To identify and evaluate currently available mobile phone apps related to the prevention and care of HIV and other STDs METHODS We searched the Apple iTunes and Android Google Play stores for HIV STD related apps excluding apps that exclusively targeted industry providers and researchers Each eligible app was downloaded tested and assessed for user ratings and functionality as well as 6 broad content areas of HIV prevention and care HIV STD disease knowledge risk reduction safer sex condom promotion HIV STD testing information resources for HIV positive persons and focus on key populations RESULTS Search queries up to May 2012 identified 1937 apps Of these 55 unique apps met the inclusion criteria 12 for Android 29 for iPhone and 14 for both platforms Among these apps 71 provided disease information about HIV STDs 36 provided HIV STD testing information or resources 29 included information about condom use or assistance locating condoms and 24 promoted safer sex Only 6 apps 11 covered all 4 of these prevention areas Eight apps 15 provided tools or resources specifically for HIV STD positive persons Ten apps included information for a range of sexual orientations 9 apps appeared to be designed for racially ethnically diverse audiences and 15 apps featured interactive components Apps were infrequently downloaded median 100 500 downloads and not highly rated average customer rating 3 7 out of 5 stars CONCLUSIONS Most available HIV STD apps have failed to attract user attention and positive reviews Public health practitioners should work with app developers to incorporate elements of evidence based interventions for risk reduction and improve app inclusiveness and interactivity