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Utilization of a mobile phone application to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda
- Source :
- Reproductive Health, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021), Reproductive Health
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- BMC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- BackgroundInnovations to increase access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, goods, and services are needed, particularly in low-income settings. This study assessed the utilization of a mobile phone application (MPA) to increase access to SRH information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from: (1) an endline survey performed as a consequence of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the effectiveness of the MPA, and (2) data from use of the MPA for accessing information, goods, and services over the 6-month time period of the RCT, obtained from in-MPA data collection service providers. We performed descriptive analysis of participant characteristics and their association with the utilization of the MPA using logistic regression; analyses of MPA use for accessing different types of information, goods, and services by gender; and analyses of functionality attributes of the MPA and related services.ResultsIn the study population of young (median 22 years) predominantly female (61%) students, the utilization of the MPA by those who downloaded it was high (81% overall, 82% female, and 82% male). The most popular information portal was the frequently asked questions (71% utilization); the most popular goods were condoms for males (77% utilization) and sanitary pads for females (94% utilization); and the most popular service was HIV testing and counseling (60% utilization). The MPA demonstrated predominantly positive (responsiveness, non-distracting in-app advertisements, and ease of use) attributes.ConclusionA mobile phone app to increase access to SRH information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda demonstrated high utilization. The results of this study support ongoing and future technical improvement efforts and research on effectiveness, economic efficiency, and scalability, along the continuum of activities to scale this intervention in order to improve SRH in low-income settings.Trial RegistrationMUREC1/7 No. 07/05-18. Registered; June 29, 2018.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Universities
Sexual and reproductive health
Services
Health Services Accessibility
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Pregnancy
Environmental health
medicine
Humans
Uganda
Kyambogo University
030212 general & internal medicine
Students
Reproductive health
Service (business)
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
Data collection
Descriptive statistics
business.industry
Research
Public health
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Gynecology and obstetrics
Service provider
Mobile Applications
Utilization
Cross-Sectional Studies
Reproductive Health
Reproductive Medicine
Mobile phone
Scale (social sciences)
RG1-991
Female
Reproductive Health Services
Business
Cell Phone
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17424755
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Reproductive Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....227a119cca4360d00c4c9598a3d3b7d5