NCT07377760

Adaptive Text Messaging and Non-Monetary Incentives to Sustain ART Adherence Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Ethiopia

Adaptive Text Messaging Reminders Combined With Non-monetary Incentives to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Ethiopia: a Hybrid Effectiveness-implementation Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 327 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Arba Minch University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 15 Years – 19 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Many adolescents living with HIV have difficulty taking their medicine on time, which can make it less effective and affect their health. This study will test whether sending reminder text messages, combined with small rewards like school supplies, hygiene kits, or sports items, can help adolescents take their HIV medicine regularly and stay in care. Each adolescent will choose a daily habit or routine to link to their medication. We will compare two groups receiving messages and rewards to a group receiving standard care to see which approach works best. We will also ask participants about their experience with the messages and rewards. The aim is to find a simple and effective way to help adolescents living with HIV stay healthy and in care.

Conditions

• Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence Among Adolescents Living With HIV

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Non-adaptive reminder text messaging	Non-adaptive reminder text messaging combined with non-monetary incentives versus the standard of care. Under this sub-aim, we will compare adherence levels between those who receive continuous text messaging combined with participant-preferences of daily cue and medication time.
BEHAVIORAL	Adaptive interventions	Participants will choose a lifestyle 'cue,' as in arm 1, and receive daily, personalized text message reminders tailored to their selected cues for the first three months. After three months, adherence will be evaluated, and a non-monetary reward will be provided to both adherent and non-adherent participants. Following this, the cue reminder text messages will be discontinued for participants who achieved 95% ART adherence over the next 12-month period. However, they will receive a non-monetary reward for achieving 95% ART adherence over six months of follow-up.
BEHAVIORAL	The control arm	In the control arm, all adolescents will receive the standard care as per the national guidelines (25). The standard care provided encompasses counseling, mental health support, nutritional assessment, and social and emotional support given by family, friends, and healthcare providers to adolescents diagnosed with HIV.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-09
• Primary completion: 2027-03-12
• Completion: 2027-03-15
• First posted: 2026-01-30
• Last updated: 2026-01-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Ethiopia