Adoption, Usage and Effectiveness of Sexual Reproductive Mhealth Apps in Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication. A Case of Youths in Kisumu County.

Abstract

Sexual Reproductive mHealth applications (SR mHealth apps) have continued to emerge in SRH settings as new forms of mHealth interventions due to rapid growth of technology. The literature around the evaluation of these applications in relation to their adoption, usage and effectiveness in SRH communication however remains dearth in developing countries compared to the evaluation of mHealth interventions such as USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and SMS (Short Messaging Services). This mixed method study guided by diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory sought to; determine the extent to which SR mHealth apps have been adopted by Kisumu youths, find out specific SRH messages Kisumu youths seek for in SR mHealth apps, determine communication factors affecting adoption of SR mHealth apps, explore the effectiveness of SR mHealth apps in the delivery of SRH information to users. The quantitative study targeted a sample size of 268 youths aged 15-24 years while the qualitative study targeted a sample size of 17 youths aged 15-24 years in Kisumu County. The quantitative data was collected using questionnaires and the data analyzed using SPSS application. Qualitative data was collected via two sessions of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and the data was analyzed into themes using NVivo application. The findings revealed that 58.8% of the youths studied had heard about the existence of the applications. However, only 32 % of the youths studied had adopted and used the applications. Sexual Reproductive Health messages on HIV/AIDS and STIs were the most searched for by the population studied. Notably, the findings revealed that the applications had more of female SRH messages in their repositories compared to male SRH messages. Adequate message, trustworthiness of information, privacy and confidentiality were realized as communication factors affecting adoption. The findings also revealed that the applications were effective in the sense that they promoted health literacy outcomes, behavioural change and communication efficiency due to their search functionality. Cost of internet bundles, smartphones, lack of voice notes options and little messages on male SRH issues were mentioned as some factors that hindered adoption, continued use and effectiveness. The study concluded that there was need for developers of the applications to be all-gender inclusive when feeding information in the applications’ repositories for equal access as this impacted on extent of adoption, usage and effectiveness.