Requirements for Interactive Digital Intervention System to Address Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Problems

Abstract

One major local social issue is the increase in adolescents' out of wedlock pregnancies and abortion. Due to social taboo and stigmatisation, adolescents face difficulties in directly informing or discussing the issue and seeking help from parents, family members or school counselor and face-to face discourse seems impossible. On the other hand, adolescents are more likely to use social media to share such problems, even though the issue of credibility is still the main constraint. Thus an online intervention program has the potential to be used as an alternative channel for adolescents to express their problems and obtain appropriate help. This study identifies interactive digital interventions (IDI) systems or online applications in related to sexual and reproductive health problem (SRHP) amongst adolescents. Specifically, the objective of this study is to gather requirements for design and development of IDI in adolescents' SRHP issues. Methods used to obtain data were observation, interviews and questionnaire survey. Results showed that there are 26 online platforms offering various interventions but lack specific characteristics of IDI to address the issue. The requirements for IDI system are user-friendly interface, instant response and approaches, trustworthiness, and confidentiality regarding personal information. Respondents preferred confidentiality and trustworthiness as the most important requirements in developing IDI. The results will be used to design an IDI system with an implementation of persuasive system design to achieve users' preferences in addressing SRHP issues amongst adolescents.