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 reproductive health information. Youth at risk are young people in these communities that face various challenges such as multidimensional poverty and unemployment, and refer specifically to those young individuals that have an uncertain future. Health information awareness is critical in informing life choices. With mobile technology being an integral part of everyday life for the youth, it seems acceptable to use existing mobile functionalities or extensions thereof to provide relevant services for information access. Mobile-based services are becoming increasingly popular as a tool for health promotion and information provision. This research focuses on mobile-based services to promote reproductive health for youth at risk groups in Grabouw, South Africa, aged 18 to 24. The study explored the many ways of accessing information, available technologies, and existing practices of accessing reproductive health information. Respective user needs were identified to address issues of sensitivity and privacy. Challenges with engaging with the youth are discussed and recommendations are presented.