Mobile Apps for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention in Canada, Mexico, and the United States: Environmental Scan.

Abstract

Background: Canada, Mexico, and the United States are primary transit destinations for migrants in the Western Hemisphere. Migrants face barriers to accessing health services, including HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. Mobile apps may enhance public health access for these populations.

Objective: This study aims to systematically identify and evaluate mobile apps supporting HIV and STI prevention in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Methods: An environmental scan of 357 mobile apps from the Google Play and Apple App stores was conducted on June 18, 2024, following the rigorous 6-step framework proposed by Fernández-Sánchez to ensure a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of apps for HIV and STI prevention. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in 6 eligible apps. Each app was assessed using the 29-item Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1=inadequate, 5=excellent), and categorized as high (3), medium (2), or low (1) based on mean scores. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach α=0.90), and interrater reliability demonstrated near-perfect agreement (Cohen κ=0.862). Data analyses were performed using SPSS (version 27; IBM Corp).

Results: All 6 apps were available in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with 33.3% (2/6) from Google Play, 16.7% (1/6) from Apple, and 50% (3/6) from both platforms. MARS evaluation revealed high quality ratings for engagement (83.0%), functionality (88.9%), aesthetics (83.3%), and information quality (100%), as well as high subjective quality (83.3%) and app-specific quality (88.9%). Life4Me+ was the highest-rated app (4.6), while HIV-TEST received the lowest rating (3.4). Most apps (5/6, 83.3%) were only available in English, and 16.7% (1/6) supported multiple languages, which may limit accessibility for non–English-speaking migrant populations. In addition, 83.3% (5/6) were updated in 2024, 33.3% (2/6) were linked to nongovernmental organization, 16.7% (1/6) to a university, and 50% (3/6) had no clear affiliation. Regarding their focus, 50% (3/6) addressed STI prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, 16.7% (1/6) combined HIV and STI prevention, and 33.3% (2/6) provided pre-exposure prophylaxis–related resources.

Conclusions: These 6 apps stand out for their high functionality, engagement, and accessibility, establishing themselves as effective tools for HIV and STI prevention education among migrant populations. This study highlights the critical role of digital resources in addressing public health challenges faced by vulnerable and minority groups. Integrating these apps into health promotion strategies is essential to improve health literacy and encourage preventive behaviors. Moreover, ensuring the quality, credibility, linguistic diversity, and continuous updating of these digital interventions is crucial to achieving a real and sustained impact on public health. Policies should promote clear standards that guarantee accessibility, transparency, and accuracy, thereby facilitating access to health care services in complex migratory contexts.