JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Canada is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse countries with over seven million individuals out of a population of 38 million being foreign-born. Immigrant adolescents (aged 10-19) make up a substantial proportion of newcomers to Canada. Religious and cultural practices can influence adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviours, as well as the uptake of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among this population. Adolescence is a time to establish lifelong healthy behaviours. Research indicates an alarming gap in adolescents’ SRH knowledge, yet there is limited research on the SRH needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada.

Objective:

Objective:

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to actively engage with immigrant adolescents to develop, implement, and evaluate a mobile health or mHealth intervention (i.e., mobile app). The interactive mobile app will aim to deliver accurate and evidence-based SRH information to adolescents.

Methods:

Methods and Analysis: We will use community-based participatory action research to guide our study. This research project will be conducted in four stages based on user-centered co-design principles. Stage 1 Empathize: Recruit and convene three adolescent advisory groups (in Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver. Members will be engaged as co-researchers and receive training in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, sexual health, and the social determinants of health. Stage 2 Define and Ideate: Explore SRH information and service needs through focus group discussions with immigrant adolescents. Stage 3 Prototype: Collaborate with mobile developers to build and iteratively design the app with support from the adolescent advisory groups. Stage 4 Test: Return to focus group settings to share the app prototype, gather feedback on usability, refine, and release the app.

Results:

The mHealth application will be our core output. We plan to disseminate the app and findings of this research through public training sessions in Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver; open-house events with immigrant adolescents, their families, service providers, and community agencies; media interviews; as well as scholarly conferences and in open-access, peer-reviewed journals.

Conclusions:

Conclusion: Our study will advance the limited knowledge base on the SRH knowledge and information needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada as well as the science underpinning participatory action research methods with immigrant adolescents. This study will address gaps by exploring SRH priorities, health information needs, and developing innovative strategies to improve the SRH of immigrant adolescents. Engaging adolescents throughout the study will increase their involvement in SRH care decision-making, expand efficiencies in SRH care utilization, and ultimately improve adolescents' SRH outcomes. The app we develop will be transferable to all adolescent groups, is scalable in international contexts, and simultaneously leverages significant economies-of-scale.