Smartphone game to help teens living with HIV in Kenya
A Smartphone Game to Increase Engagement in Care among African Adolescents Living with HIV
A phone game called MyLife designed to help 15–18-year-old adolescents in Kisumu, Kenya manage HIV treatment, stick to ART, and support sexual and mental health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11378907 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would play a narrative smartphone game made with African teens' lived experiences in mind, where characters and storylines build knowledge, motivation, and skills for HIV self-care. The game includes features like medication and refill trackers, reminders, and in-game scenarios to practice disclosing to caregivers, coping with stigma, and reducing sexual risk. It is developed using social-behavioral and educational theories and collects usage data automatically to learn what works. The program is being tested with adolescents living with HIV in Kisumu, Kenya and is designed to be low-burden for clinic staff.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adolescents living with HIV aged 15–18 in Kisumu, Kenya who have regular access to a smartphone would be the ideal participants.
Not a fit: Children outside the 15–18 age range, adults, people without smartphone access, or those unable to attend local follow-up are unlikely to benefit from this particular program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the game could help teens take their ART more reliably, improve mental health and support, and reduce sexual risk behaviors.
How similar studies have performed: Other digital and game-based adherence programs have shown promise for improving engagement and medication use, but narrative smartphone games for adolescents with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Winskell, S Kate — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Winskell, S Kate
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.