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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Study protocol

Adolescent/Youth Reproductive Mobile Access and Delivery Initiative for Love and Life Outcomes (ARMADILLO) Study: formative protocol for mHealth platform development and piloting

Authors: Lianne Gonsalves, Kelly L. L’Engle, Tigest Tamrat, Kate F. Plourde, Emily R. Mangone, Smisha Agarwal, Lale Say, Michelle J. Hindin

Published in: Reproductive Health | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

There is a high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services among youth (ages 15-24) worldwide (MacQuarrie KLD. Unmet Need for Family Planning among Young Women: Levels and Trends 2014). With the proliferation of mobile technology, and its popularity with this age group, mobile phones offer a novel and accessible platform for a discreet, on-demand service providing SRH information. The Adolescent/Youth Reproductive Mobile Access and Delivery Initiative for Love and Life Outcomes (ARMADILLO) formative study will inform the development of an intervention, which will use the popular channel of SMS (text messages) to deliver SRH information on-demand to youth.

Methods/Design

Following the development of potential SMS message content in partnership with SRH technical experts and youth, formative research activities will take place over two phases. Phase 1 will use focus group discussions (FGDs) with youth and parents/caregivers to develop and test the appropriateness and acceptability of the SMS messages. Phase 2 will consist of ‘peer piloting’, where youth participants will complete an SRH outcome-focused pretest, be introduced to the system and then have three weeks to interact with the system and share it with friends. Participants will then return to complete the SRH post-test and participate in an in-depth interview about their own and their peers’ opinions and experiences using ARMADILLO.

Discussion

The ARMADILLO formative stage will culminate in the finalization of country-specific ARMADILLO messaging. Reach and impact of ARMADILLO will be measured at later stages. We anticipate that the complete ARMADILLO platform will be scalable, with the potential for national-level adoption.

Defined as health-related reading fluency and vocabulary when applied to a mobile, text-messaging platform. Participants will be asked to read several ARMADILLO messages and literacy will be judged by fluency in reading the messages. Text message health literacy will be assessed rather than standard health literacy because previous m4RH work has shown that individuals with low literacy may still text message and be able to comprehend health messages on their mobile phones

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Title: Adolescent/Youth Reproductive Mobile Access and Delivery Initiative for Love and Life Outcomes (ARMADILLO) Study: formative protocol for mHealth platform development and piloting
Authors: Lianne Gonsalves
Kelly L. L’Engle
Tigest Tamrat
Kate F. Plourde
Emily R. Mangone
Smisha Agarwal
Lale Say
Michelle J. Hindin
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Reproductive Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4755
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-015-0059-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Adolescent/Youth Reproductive Mobile Access and Delivery Initiative for Love and Life Outcomes (ARMADILLO) Study: formative protocol for mHealth platform development and piloting

Abstract

Background

Methods/Design

Discussion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods/Design

Discussion

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