JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Teenage pregnancy remains high with low contraceptive prevalence among adolescents (aged 15 – 19 years) in Sierra Leone. Stakeholders leverage multiple strategies to address the challenge. Mobile technology is pervasive and presents an opportunity to reach young people with critical sexual reproductive health and family planning messages.

Objective:

The objectives of this research study are to understand how mobile health is used for family planning; understand phone use habits amongst young people in Sierra Leone; and recommend strategies for mobile-enabled dissemination of family planning information at scale.

Methods:

This formative research study was conducted using a systematic literature review and focus group discussions (FGDs). The literature survey assessed similar, but existing interventions through a systematic search of six scholarly databases. A cross-section of Young people of both sexes and their support groups were engaged in a series of FGDs to gather information necessary to decide on an appropriate technology channel and content format for different user segments.

Results:

More young people own dumbphone (basic phone) than those with feature-capable or smartphone. Young people with smartphones use them mostly for WhatsApp and Facebook. Young people widely subscribe to the social media only internet bundle, with the cost ranging from 1000Le ($0.11) to 1500 Le ($0.16) daily. Pupil in both districts top-up their voice-call and SMS credit every day between 1000 Leones ($0.11) and 5000 Leones ($0.52).

Conclusions:

mHealth has facilitated family planning information dissemination for demand creation around the world. Despite the widespread use of social and new media, short-message-service (SMS) is the scalable channel to reach semi-literate young people. Interactive-voice-response (IVR) and automated-calls are best suited to reach non-literate young people at scale.