Previously submitted to: JMIR Formative Research (no longer under consideration since Nov 05, 2026)
Date Submitted: Apr 29, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: May 23, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025
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Mhealth As A Tool For Accessing SRH Among Young People In The Greater-Accra Region Of Ghana – ‘The Case Study of the You Must Know App’
ABSTRACT
Background:
With technological advancement, the internet has become the most convenient and vital source of information for many young people, most especially with the influx of mobile health (mHealth) platforms, which prevent many hurdles associated with young people’s access to SRH information and services. Hence, there is a gradual drift from in-person and constant visits to health facilities to a more convenient and easy way with just a tap. Again, unpleasant experiences such as attitudes of healthcare providers, proximity of health facilities, and cost implications further deter youth access to SRH in Ghana. In the bid to surf towards the new wave, novel approaches such as digital platforms, among which included the ‘You Must Know App’ by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Flow App, and many other digital tools, were introduced to help address this menace and facilitate access to quality and inclusive SRH among the Ghanaian youth.
Objective:
The study assesses the viability of digital tools as a means for sexual reproductive health (SRH) access among young people in the Greater Accra Region.
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed in the study. Following informed consent, a structured questionnaire was administered through an online platform to obtain information on socio-demographic and background characteristics, knowledge of available digital health platforms, sources of sexual reproductive health and any health-related information, and services, including participants' level of knowledge of mHealth and challenges to access.
Results:
The study found that 53.5% of participants had never used any digital health. Specifically, 66.8% indicated zero knowledge and awareness of the ‘You Must Know App’, and had they used any mobile applications to access healthcare before. On the other hand, 43.1% stated that they have ever used mobile health applications in their life, while 3.5% of the respondents did not know if they have ever used the applications or not. The results further suggested that despite technological advances in Ghana and parts of Africa, there remains a significantly low level of knowledge of mHealth tools and thus, the need for sensitization about mHealth Platforms, as a majority of the Ghanaian youth may not be aware of these applications at all.
Conclusions:
This study brought to light the emerging approaches to accessing sexual reproductive health information and services by the youth in Ghana, particularly with the onset of technology. However, it also revealed the emerging gaps or challenges faced by young people when using the available mobile health (mHealth) platforms as a source of SRH information in Ghana, particularly the You Must Know App, and suggested key innovations that can be implemented to enhance young people’s experiences with mhealth tools in Ghana.
Citation
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