Exploring Rural Community Practices in HIV Management for the Design of Technology for Hypertensive Patients Living with HIV

Abstract

Information communication technologies for development (ICTD) can support people with chronic illnesses living in rural communities. In Kenya, ICTD use in areas where undetected cases of hypertension and high HIV infection rates exist is underexplored. Partnering with a health facility in Migori, Kenya, we report on the uses of technology in managing HIV. We see the use of technology to manage HIV was influenced by the roles and routines of patients and clinicians, trust between practitioners and patients, and sources of data that clinicians use for patient examination. We use these results to inform the design of technologies that can support patients living with comorbid HIV and hypertension, as well as their care providers, to manage their care in similar settings. We also reiterate the important mediatory role that community health volunteers (CHVs) can play in the adoption of technology as patients manage their condition(s) once out of hospital.