Can Our Phones Receive These Messages? Rural Women's Experiences with Family Planning Information Access via mHealth Technologies in Tanzania.

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of women of childbearing age in rural Tanzania regarding their use of mHealth technologies to obtain family planning information. A qualitative approach, primarily involving focus group discussions, was utilized to gather insights from participants. The findings reveal that mHealth technologies play a crucial role in improving access to family planning information and fostering positive reproductive health behaviors among the women. However, the effective adoption of these technologies faces obstacles, particularly due to insufficient awareness of their existence, accessibility, and functionality. While many women were completely unaware of these vital technologies that could assist in accessing family planning information, others demonstrated a limited understanding of how to utilize these technologies, especially regarding the subscription and registration procedures. This variation in awareness levels highlights the need for enhanced educational initiatives aimed at informing women about the capabilities of these technologies to close the accessibility gap for family planning information, thus promoting their optimal use.