Youth empowerment: the role of service design and mobile technology in accessing reproductive health information

Abstract

There is a need to provide 'youth at risk' groups in marginalised communities with simple and private access to relevant reproductive health information. Youth at risk are young people faced with various challenges such as multidimensional poverty, unemployment and those that have an uncertain future. It is important that the youth be aware of all the critical life information particularly health information in order for them to make better choices. With mobile technology being an integral part of everyday life of the youth, it seems fit to use existing mobile functionalities or an extension thereof to provide relevant mobile-based services for information access. Mobile-based services are rapidly becoming popular as a tool to promote all kinds of areas of health especially for information provision. This research project focuses on mobile-based services to promote reproductive health information for youth at risk groups, aged 18 to 24. The study explored the many ways of accessing information, the available technology and existing practices by youth to access reproductive health information. Respective user needs were identified to address issues of sensitivity and privacy effectively. Challenges with engaging with the youth are discussed and recommendations are presented.