Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study
BackgroundWith the region’s highest population growth rate (30%), Uganda is on the brink of a population explosion, yet access to and utilization of public health control measures like modern contraception is a challenge. This is due to remotely located health facilities, non...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2022-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2022/6/e34424 |
| _version_ | 1797734927060434944 |
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| author | Louis Henry Kamulegeya JohnMark Bwanika Joy Banonya Joan Atuhaire Davis Musinguzi Vivian Nakate Joshua Kyenkya Lydia Namatende Keith J Horvath Agnes Kiragga |
| author_facet | Louis Henry Kamulegeya JohnMark Bwanika Joy Banonya Joan Atuhaire Davis Musinguzi Vivian Nakate Joshua Kyenkya Lydia Namatende Keith J Horvath Agnes Kiragga |
| author_sort | Louis Henry Kamulegeya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundWith the region’s highest population growth rate (30%), Uganda is on the brink of a population explosion, yet access to and utilization of public health control measures like modern contraception is a challenge. This is due to remotely located health facilities, noncustomized health content, and poor or nonfunctional post-facility follow-up.
ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth engagement platform primarily targeting men; the platform provided behavioral and informational messaging on modern contraception (ie, family planning) and its impact on shaping sexual and reproductive health and knowledge and uptake of family planning services.
MethodsA longitudinal cohort of men aged 18 years and older gave consent to receive mobile phone messages on family planning; follow-up was performed at months 1, 4, and 6 to assess key study-related outcomes on knowledge transfer and acquisition on modern contraception, partner communication, and spousal uptake of family planning. Qualitative interviews with the study participants’ spouses were also performed.
ResultsThe study included 551 study participants, 450 of whom were men, the primary study participants, who received the family planning mobile messages and 101 of whom were their spouses. Of the 450 primary participants, 426 (95%) successfully received the messages and only 24 (5%) reported not receiving them. The average response (ie, participation) rate in weekly quizzes was 23%. There was a noted 18.1% increase in couple communication attributed to the intervention; couples opened up more to each other on matters concerning family planning.
ConclusionsUsing digital channels to address the concerns and inquiries of participants in real time or as fast as possible helped to increase the likelihood that couples adopted family planning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:51:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a1429591a174bae97b94aad8636f576 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:51:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a1429591a174bae97b94aad8636f5762023-08-28T22:23:02ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2022-06-0166e3442410.2196/34424Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional StudyLouis Henry Kamulegeyahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4501-1427JohnMark Bwanikahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-1274Joy Banonyahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5974-5635Joan Atuhairehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9542-1534Davis Musinguzihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6962-5584Vivian Nakatehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8009-0514Joshua Kyenkyahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0840-0709Lydia Namatendehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3550-4869Keith J Horvathhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7569-2839Agnes Kiraggahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0969-0699 BackgroundWith the region’s highest population growth rate (30%), Uganda is on the brink of a population explosion, yet access to and utilization of public health control measures like modern contraception is a challenge. This is due to remotely located health facilities, noncustomized health content, and poor or nonfunctional post-facility follow-up. ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth engagement platform primarily targeting men; the platform provided behavioral and informational messaging on modern contraception (ie, family planning) and its impact on shaping sexual and reproductive health and knowledge and uptake of family planning services. MethodsA longitudinal cohort of men aged 18 years and older gave consent to receive mobile phone messages on family planning; follow-up was performed at months 1, 4, and 6 to assess key study-related outcomes on knowledge transfer and acquisition on modern contraception, partner communication, and spousal uptake of family planning. Qualitative interviews with the study participants’ spouses were also performed. ResultsThe study included 551 study participants, 450 of whom were men, the primary study participants, who received the family planning mobile messages and 101 of whom were their spouses. Of the 450 primary participants, 426 (95%) successfully received the messages and only 24 (5%) reported not receiving them. The average response (ie, participation) rate in weekly quizzes was 23%. There was a noted 18.1% increase in couple communication attributed to the intervention; couples opened up more to each other on matters concerning family planning. ConclusionsUsing digital channels to address the concerns and inquiries of participants in real time or as fast as possible helped to increase the likelihood that couples adopted family planning.https://formative.jmir.org/2022/6/e34424 |
| spellingShingle | Louis Henry Kamulegeya JohnMark Bwanika Joy Banonya Joan Atuhaire Davis Musinguzi Vivian Nakate Joshua Kyenkya Lydia Namatende Keith J Horvath Agnes Kiragga Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study JMIR Formative Research |
| title | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study |
| title_full | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study |
| title_short | Feasibility and Acceptability of a Ugandan Telehealth Engagement Platform for Informational Messaging on Modern Contraception: Pilot Cross-sectional Study |
| title_sort | feasibility and acceptability of a ugandan telehealth engagement platform for informational messaging on modern contraception pilot cross sectional study |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2022/6/e34424 |
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