Mobile Phones and Health Communication for Young Adults: An Exploratory Case Study about Incorporating Text messaging in Pregnancy Care Support in Edmonton

Abstract: Research shows that reproductive health initiatives for youth, using SMS (texting), are successful worldwide. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe how introducing SMS in an agency supporting people facing unplanned pregnancies in Edmonton could enhance agency-client relationships. Six counselors and six young adult clients were individually interviewed. Findings exposed that adopting a technology in a non-profit agency is a complex process, where technological, social, economic, cultural, and personal factors all play a key role. The clients belong to the mobile phone culture and were open to receiving relevant SMS from the agency; however, the counselors did not adopt SMS because of their beliefs and behaviors towards this technology. This study reveals that introducing SMS to the agency did not improve the agency-client relationships, but it could if the service becomes useful for clients. Further research in this area is needed and would be valuable.