Feasibility and acceptability of the use of mobile technology for adolescent counseling in sexual and reproductive health in the Amansie West District (rural district in Ghana)

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Date
November, 2016
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Abstract
Recently, healthcare professionals and researchers have introduced more and more technological solutions into the healthcare system, particularly mobile Health (mHealth). The study sought to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the use of mobile technology to address the sexual-reproductive health concerns of adolescents in rural district of Amansie West. Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data. A sample size of 425 respondents were used for the study. A purposive sampling technique was also used to select stakeholders for the study. Adolescent between the ages of 10-21years were selected from each sub-district by the use of simple random sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Results: The findings revealed that Majority of the respondents indicated that mobile network is available in their communities. Cost implications of the use of Mobile technology in Amansie West District is moderately low taking into consideration the cost of the phone, recharge cards, power to charge the phones and the cost of repairs cumulatively. Majority of the respondents were of the view that Mobile phone would be the best medium for discussing reproductive health of adolescents. They further indicated that using mobile phone to address adolescents’ health concerns will be effective due to its convenience. Stakeholders are interested in investing in tele-health for the adolescent in the district and they were of the view that mobile technology is appropriate for counseling adolescent on sexual reproduction as it will help reduce shyness, cost of traveling to the health facilities and help with keeping clients information confidential. Stakeholders in the health sector should advocate for the implementation of the use of mobile technology in addressing the health concerns of adolescents. E-health is an important tool for adolescents counselling in sexual and reproductive health and feasible to roll out in underserved communities based on the availability of mobile infrastructure, interest of the stakeholders and its affordability.
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A thesis submitted to the department of health policy, management, and economics, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of public health in Health Service Planning and Management
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