Women’s Perceptions About Mobile Health Solutions for Selection and Use of Family Planning Methods in Karachi: A Feasibility Study

Background: The qualitative study explored the feasibility and acceptability of potential mHealth intervention from women living in low socio-economic areas to increase the uptake of family planning. The study also discussed the potential benefits of mHealth intervention by exploring providers perceptions as well. Methods The qualitative exploratory study recorded the perception of 23 women and seven in-depth interviews with the providers of family planning services. These interviews asses women’s attitude though; personal experience based on the usage of smartphones and family planning, acceptability for personal benefits, features of mobile application and the convenient language, and self-efficacy for identifying the potential impact of mHealth intervention to increase women’s empowerment for family planning usage. Results Three predetermined themes were used to record the perception of women.The personal experience of women identified that women in low-socio economic areas use mobile phone frequently, they use phone to get preventive information for healthcare. Few women have experience using mobile phones for getting information about sexual and reproductive health. Women considered; poor counselling and high transport costs to the facilities, as major barriers to getting family planning services. Perceived acceptability discussed the potential features of the mHealth app. Women considered including short videos instead of written material will help them to understand its usage, complete information about family planning method including; dosage, expected side effects and potential benefits suggested to include in the app. Women perceived that the mHealth intervention will save women’s cost of transport to the facility and will fill the information gap about family planning methods. While providers considered that it will save their time in counselling and motivating women for the method at the facility. Self-efficacy in the form of women empowerment in deciding family planning was one of the major factors discussed, where women discussed that the mHealth intervention will increase their self-confidence to discuss the method with their husbands. Conclusion There is a high potential for mHealth interventions for family planning in Pakistan. The usage of mobile phones can be utilized for increasing women’s acceptability and accessibility for family planning uptake in the country.