{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T14:40:51Z","timestamp":1767796851423,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764720000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":2,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,4]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are effective HIV prevention methods, but their use is low in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Mobile applications (apps) could increase uptake and adherence to these interventions, yet research on their use in communities is limited. Furthermore, there is limited information on the design and development of these apps, impacting their implementation. This scoping review aims to identify, analyse and evaluate mobile apps designed to improve nPEP uptake, adherence and linkage to PrEP services focusing on key features, barriers and facilitators. It also seeks to address gaps in studies assessing the feasibility, usability and acceptability of these apps, with the goal of informing future research, healthcare policies and public health strategies to reduce the HIV burden in Sub-Saharan Africa.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and analysis<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This review will follow the Arksey and O'Malley framework and search databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant studies. Two independent reviewers will screen and assess full-text studies. Primarily, the review will include studies on digital interventions for nPEP and PrEP, excluding opinion papers, narrative reviews and sub-studies. Grey literature from sources like Google Scholar will also be considered. Data will be captured using a charting form, and results will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews framework. Completion is expected in December 2025.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>No ethical approval is required as publicly available materials will be used. Results will be shared through peer-reviewed journals, conferences and with policymakers to inform HIV prevention strategies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-103326","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T10:13:50Z","timestamp":1764843230000},"page":"e103326","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["mHealth interventions to increase HIV non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis uptake, adherence and linkage to pre-exposure prophylaxis services in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6849-1569","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nametso Lebogang Patience","family":"Segomotso","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Public health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mathildah Mpata","family":"Mokgatle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Olanrewaju","family":"Oladimeji","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jandre","family":"Swanepoel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-18717-1","article-title":"Knowledge and attitude to HIV pre exposure prophylaxis among women in five sub-Saharan African countries: a multilevel model analysis of population-based survey 2021-2022","volume":"24","author":"Terefe","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.2","unstructured":"UNAIDS . The urgency of now. 2024. Available: https:\/\/www.unaids.org\/sites\/default\/files\/media_asset\/2024-unaids-global-aids-update_en.pdf"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4102\/sajhivmed.v24i1.1522","article-title":"Southern African HIV Clinicians Society 2023 Guideline for post-exposure prophylaxis: Updated recommendations","volume":"24","author":"Horak","year":"2023","journal-title":"South Afr J HIV Med"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e353","DOI":"10.1016\/S2352-3018(22)00029-7","article-title":"Cost-effectiveness of easy-access, risk-informed oral pre-exposure prophylaxis in HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa: a modelling study","volume":"9","author":"Phillips","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet HIV"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1211","DOI":"10.1093\/tbm\/ibaa007","article-title":"A systematic review of mHealth interventions for HIV prevention and treatment among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men","volume":"10","author":"Nelson","year":"2020","journal-title":"Transl Behav Med"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.37689\/acta-ape\/2021AO000345","article-title":"Building a mobile application for HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis","volume":"34","author":"Silva","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acta Paulista de Enfermagem"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/10694","article-title":"A Mobile-Based App (MyChoices) to Increase Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial","volume":"8","author":"Biello","year":"2019","journal-title":"JMIR Res Protoc"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/43844","article-title":"Development of a Mobile App to Increase the Uptake of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Latino Sexual Minority Men: Qualitative Needs Assessment","volume":"7","author":"Cantos","year":"2023","journal-title":"JMIR Form Res"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cenzi CM , Marziale MHP . Mobile application development structured in self-care for occupational post-exposure prophylaxis to biological material. Rev Bras Enferm 2020;73. doi:10.1590\/0034-7167-2019-0721","DOI":"10.1590\/0034-7167-2019-0721"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/43318","article-title":"Clinic-Integrated Mobile Health Intervention (\u201cJomPrEP\u201d App) to Improve Uptake of HIV Testing and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Protocol for an Intervention Development and Multiphase Trial","volume":"11","author":"Shrestha","year":"2022","journal-title":"JMIR Res Protoc"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/46853","article-title":"Retention in an mHealth App Aiming to Promote the Use of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Female Sex Workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Prospective Cohort Study","volume":"11","author":"Mbotwa","year":"2023","journal-title":"JMIR Mhealth Uhealth"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2196\/60042","article-title":"Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study","volume":"7","author":"Radley","year":"2024","journal-title":"JMIR Pediatr Parent"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1364557032000119616"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.11124\/jbisrir-2016-2838","article-title":"In no uncertain terms: the importance of a defined objective in scoping reviews","volume":"14","author":"Peters","year":"2016","journal-title":"JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep"},{"key":"2026010703462972000_15.12.e103326.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2010.02.007"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-103326","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T11:47:50Z","timestamp":1767786470000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-103326"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]},"references-count":15,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-103326"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-103326","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}}}