Author and Presenter: Regina Benevides Authors: Bamikale Feyisetan, Rita Badiani, Namuunda Mutombo

Transcription

1 Improving Youth s Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-Efficacy Related to Contraception through Short Message Services (SMS) Education: Evidence from Mozambique Author and Presenter: Regina Benevides Authors: Bamikale Feyisetan, Rita Badiani, Namuunda Mutombo

2 Mozambique Background USAID-Funded Essential Service Delivery/Family Planning Initiative Project; Technology Partner Dimagi, Inc. July 2010 July 2014, 4 provinces Sub-Project Goal: Youth have greater access to contraception, reproductive health, and HIV services through youth-friendly health centers In 2014, 69.7 mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants Population: 25 million Urban population: 32% Rural population: 68% Population under age 24: 65%

3 Overall Design Of mcenas! (Mobile Scenes) Youth need information AND strategies to address range of barriers Using SMS, we utilized narratives, the cornerstone of Pathfinder s behavior change approach Drew on experiences and lessons learned of other SMS and mhealth programs globally (m4rh designed by FHI360) Complement stories with: A way for youth to receive straightforward information on methods A mechanism for interactivity and a way to address sexuality, sexual health, rights, and reproductive health

4 mcenas! Had Three Components 1. Story using barriers and facilitators identified by youth 2. Informational messages on contraceptive methods 3. Interactive frequently asked questions menu on range sexual health and reproductive health topics

5 Target Audience and Enrollment Free Service for Youth Parenting and non-parenting youth, years Have own cellphone, ability to use text SMS 20 peer educators from two youth community-based organizations trained to register youth in mcenas!

6 Total Enrollment in mcenas! Enrollmment period: September 2013 until February ,005 young people enrolled in mcenas! Age Parenting Status Gender 54% 46% year olds year olds 67% 33% Have a child Do not have any children 43% 57% Women Men

7 E2A mcenas Pre/Post Intervention Evaluation Research questions: 1. Is SMS an acceptable method of delivering SRH information to youth in Mozambique? 2. Does providing information through SMS (when integrated into a larger service delivery program) improve youth knowledge on contraception and reduce misconceptions? 3. Does providing stories through SMS lead to improvement in self-efficacy, outcome expectations and attitudes related to contraception among youth in Mozambique?

8 Methodology Pretest-posttest design, with same participants interviewed at two points baseline (January February 2014) and endline (June-July 2014). Respondents recruited: Females with children and females without children; Males with children and males without children. 895 participants were recruited and interviewed in the baseline ; 504 of them responded to the endline interview

9 Results Results are presented as percentage point differences between baseline and endline values. Results focus on changes in: Contraceptive knowledge Perceptions of the safety, ease of use and effectiveness of contraceptive methods Contraceptive use Perceptions of self-efficacy regarding contraceptive use

10 Contraceptive Knowledge Increase 100 Percentage. medium-high knowledge, 3 or more methods Females w/children Females w/o children Males w/ children chidlren Males w/o children Baseline Endline

11 Respondents Perceptions of Implants, Injectables, IUDs as Very Easy to Use

12 Respondents Perceptions of Implants, Injectables, IUDs as Very Effective

13 Conclusions Increase in contraceptive knowledge among youth during mcenas! intervention Significant improvements in perceptions of: Ease of use of methods Effectiveness of methods Improvements in attitude and beliefs about contraception

14 Conclusions (Cont) Self-efficacy related to contraception was high among male youth but low among female youth Acceptability: mcenas! Majority were satisfied with the intervention and comfortable sending and receiving SRH messages through mobile phones mcenas! Messages were clear and useful Little change in current use of contraceptive methods

15 Thank