Utilization of a mobile phone application to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda
| Autor: | Janet U. Babigumira, Afra Nuwasiima, Robinah Nalwanga, Francis T. Asiimwe, Joseph B Babigumira, Elly Nuwamanya |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
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 |
| Zdroj: | Reproductive Health, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021) Reproductive Health |
| ISSN: | 1742-4755 |
| Popis: | 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. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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