Suubi-mHealth: a mobile app to help Ugandan teens with HIV manage depression and take their HIV medicine
Suubi-Mhealth: A mobile health intervention to address depression and improve ART adherence among Youth living with HIV (YLHIV) in Uganda
A phone-based CBT program to reduce depression and help teens with HIV stick to their HIV medicines in Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172577 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is creating a mobile app called Suubi-mHealth for 14–17-year-olds in Uganda who have HIV and depression. The app uses ideas from cognitive-behavioral therapy to deliver short lessons, mood tools, and medication reminders tailored to local culture and developmental needs. Researchers will test the app with youth to see if it is acceptable, usable, and helps improve mood and ART adherence. The team will refine the app based on participant feedback before moving to larger testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Ugandan adolescents aged about 14–17 years who are living with HIV and experiencing symptoms of depression or problems taking ART.
Not a fit: Young children, adults, people without depression, or those living outside the study area (not in Uganda) are unlikely to be eligible or directly helped by this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help depressed teens with HIV feel better and take their HIV medicines more reliably, improving health and reducing transmission risk.
How similar studies have performed: Digital CBT and mobile ART-adherence programs have shown promise in other settings, but few have combined mental-health CBT and adherence support for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nabunya, Proscovia — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Nabunya, Proscovia
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.