TY  - JOUR
AU  - Dietrich, Janan Janine
AU  - Laher, Fatima
AU  - Hornschuh, Stefanie
AU  - Nkala, Busisiwe
AU  - Chimoyi, Lucy
AU  - Otwombe, Kennedy
AU  - Kaida, Angela
AU  - Gray, Glenda Elisabeth
AU  - Miller, Cari
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/09/28
TI  - Investigating Sociodemographic Factors and HIV Risk Behaviors Associated With Social Networking Among Adolescents in Soweto, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey
JO  - JMIR Public Health Surveill
SP  - e154
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
KW  - mobile phone
KW  - adolescent health
KW  - HIV
KW  - health
KW  - social networking
KW  - mhealth
KW  - South Africa
AB  - Background: Internet access via mobile phones and computers facilitates interaction and potential health communication among individuals through social networking. Many South African adolescents own mobile phones and can access social networks via apps. Objective: We investigated sociodemographic factors and HIV risk behaviors of adolescent social networking users in Soweto, South Africa. Methods: We conducted an interviewer-administered, cross-sectional survey of adolescents aged 14-19 years. Independent covariates of social networking were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 830 adolescents, 57% (475/830) were females and the median age was found to be 18 years (interquartile range 17-18). Social networking was used by 60% of adolescents (494/830); more than half, that is, 87% (396/494) accessed social networks through mobile phones and 56% (275/494) spent more than 4 hours per day using their mobile phones. Social networking was independently associated with mobile usage 2-4 hours (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.06, CI: 1.69-5.51) and more than 4 hours per day (AOR: 6.16, CI: 3.46-10.9) and one (AOR: 3.35, CI: 1.79-6.27) or more sexual partner(s) (AOR: 2.58, CI: 1.05-6.36). Conclusions: Mobile phone–based social networking is prevalent among sexually active adolescents living in Soweto and may be used as an entry point for health promotion and initiation of low-cost adolescent health interventions. 
SN  - 2369-2960
UR  - http://publichealth.jmir.org/2016/2/e154/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.4885
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27683173
DO  - 10.2196/publichealth.4885
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/publichealth.4885
ER  -