A Single-Blind, Parallel Design RCT to Assess the Effectiveness of SMS Reminders in Improving ART Adherence Among Adolescents Living with HIV (STARTA Trial).

Purpose: The study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of interactive and tailored short message reminders on antiretroviral therapy adherence among adolescents (15-19 years) living with HIV in southwest Nigeria.

Methods: The study was a single-blind, parallel-design (ratio 1:1), and multicenter RCT of 209 medication-non-adherent adolescents living with HIV at HIV clinics in two states in southwest Nigeria. The research assessed ART adherence using the visual analog scale, viral suppression, pill count, and ACTG scores; the feasibility of the intervention by the SMS delivery and response (overall and individual) rates; and acceptability using self-report, willingness to continue receiving the intervention, and desire for its scale-up.