Perspectives of Adolescents, Parents, Service Providers and Teachers on Mobile Phone Ownership, Access and use For SRH Information Among Adolescents

Introduction: Mobile health (mHealth) programmes offer opportunities to improve sexual and reproductive health (SRH) for adolescents by providing information. Researchers define mHealth as a “medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices”. mHealth is increasingly used to deliver health interventions including adolescent SRH. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the utilization and effectiveness of these programmes. This study reports findings of a qualitative study carried out in Homabay County, Kenya. Purpose: We aimed to establish if mHealth would facilitate access of SRH information by adolescents, and whether adolescents would participate in SRH-related content delivered on mobile phones, based on their experiences and existing constraints. Methods: This was a qualitative exploratory study seeking to gain an understanding of the experiences of adolescents concerning their mobile phone ownership, access and use. The study population included adolescents, parents, teachers and health care workers and community health volunteers (CHVs). Data were collected through 25 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 19 key informant interviews (KIIs). The FGDs consisted of five groups each for girls, boys, fathers, mothers and CHVs. We purposively selected five primary school heads, five secondary school heads and nine health facilities in-charges for KIIs. Data were analyzed through thematic and qualitative content analysis. Results: Mobile phone use was frequent among adolescents accessing phones from parents and friends. The most popular use of mobile phones was short messaging service (SMS) with girls and boys citing chatting, SMS and watching movies. Service providers emphasized accessing health knowledge. Teachers emphasized accessing SRH information. All respondent categories highlighting ease of access and potential reach to large numbers of adolescents and hence an effective and efficient approach. Respondents lauded the potential of mobile phones to promote learning of useful SRH information among adolescents to influence their behavior formation, modification and or change by learning about diseases and receiving advice. Mobile phones overcame barriers experienced by adolescents when seeking sensitive SRH information and services such as stigma, discrimination, and lack of privacy and confidentiality. Conclusion: Mobile phones can provide safe, accurate, cost-effective, and timely SRH information and services tailored to the needs of adolescents to influence their behavior