Design and Development of a Mobile Health App for Adolescent HIV Awareness and Adherence: A Case Study of Chaisa Compound

Adolescents in Zambia are increasingly affected by HIV, with recent reports showing that they account for a growing proportion of new infections compared to older age groups. This trend underscores the urgent need for interventions that improve awareness, reduce stigma, and support adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The purpose of this study was to design and develop a mobile health (mHealth) application to enhance HIV awareness and treatment adherence among adolescents in Chaisa compound. The application was developed using the agile methodology, guided by an iterative software development process that incorporated feedback from adolescents to ensure relevance and usability. The app includes educational content on HIV, medication reminders, peer support features, and tools for tracking HIV testing and treatment progress. The system has been successfully implemented and is fully functional, demonstrating that mobile technology can be effectively applied to support HIV prevention and care. Preliminary findings indicate that the application improves adolescents’ access to reliable information, encourages timely medication intake, and facilitates engagement with peers facing similar challenges. The study concludes that a well-designed mHealth solution offers a practical and sustainable approach to improving HIV awareness and treatment adherence, with potential for replication in similar settings.