Development of MindBodyU—An Innovative mHealth Intervention for Youth Living with HIV in South Carolina

Technology-based interventions may improve care engagement and quality of life for youth living with HIV (YLHIV). This paper describes the development of MindBodyU—a mobile Health (mHealth) intervention for YLHIV in South Carolina—a rural, southern state disproportionately burdened by the HIV epidemic. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with YLHIV (n=16) and HIV providers (n=15). Focus groups were held with staff from HIV community-based organizations (CBOs) (n=23). Guided by theories of resilience, data were integrated to inform the selection and development of MindBodyU—a multi-component mHealth intervention that includes health education, connection to social support, behavioral health monitoring/goal setting, and linkage to mental and behavioral health resources. mHealth interventions like MindBodyU may help YLHIV better cope with HIV-related stigma and connect to needed resources. Lessons learned from the development of MindBodyU can inform other efforts to improve HIV outcomes for young people in the southern United States (US) and beyond.