A new research paper by a group of researchers from the HSRC and Rhodes University demonstrates that mobile health (mHealth) interventions have a positive outcome in delivering sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information to adolescents. mHealth is a medical and public health practice that uses these digital technologies to communicate information.

Nazeema Isaacs of the HSRC’s Impact Centre, and the lead author of the paper, says that adolescents continue to face challenges to their SRH both locally and internationally. By reviewing previous studies, the team assessed the extent to which these mHealth interventions promote SRH outcomes among young people.

This scoping review shows that mHealth interventions are effective in enhancing SRH knowledge and attitudes among young people in both lowmiddle and high-income countries. However, comprehensive longitudinal studies are necessary to measure the sustainability and long-term influence of mHealth interventions on behaviour. It is recommended that with artificial intelligence (AI) improvements, there is a possible path to bolstering mHealth interventions.

Read the paper on the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

View on the HSRC Repository https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/22887