“What’s that on your phone?” The aftermath of parents finding sexual and reproductive health messages on their children’s phone in coastal Kenya
Journal Title: Journal of Health and Social Sciences - Year 2018, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Digital health interventions allow young people to access information quickly and discreetly, but privacy remains a concern. This article explores what happens when a young user’s privately-access Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) messages from a digital health campaign in Kenya are discovered by his/her parents. Methods: This qualitative study took place in Mtwapa, Kenya. Participants were young people aged 15-24 and parents/caregivers of young people aged 15-24. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with youth (n = 12 FGD, M = 48, F = 49) and caregiver (n = 4 FGD, M =14, F = 19), by using vignettes, explored perceived parental responses about their children accessing SRH information on mobile phones. 97 young people and 33 parent/caregivers participated. Results and Discussion: Sociodemographic characteristics of participants revealed that phone ownership was higher among young men than young women, and particularly low among young women aged 15-17. Youth participants indicated that parents finding SRH messages on their children’s phone would have a range of reactions, from positive to negative: supportive parents would appreciate the messages as a sign their child was being proactive about their health; negative reactions would stem from fear of the message recipient being sexually active. Parent participants accepted children accessing SRH information outside the home as an inevitability, and indicated that parents would cautiously accept or be fully supportive of their child accessing messages on their phone. Conclusions: In the event that a digital health intervention’s young user’s privacy is compromised, these findings demonstrate that the fears of extreme adverse reactions on the part of parents are likely overstated. Specific considerations for future digital health interventions are proposed.
Authors and Affiliations
Jefferson Mwaisaka, Lianne Gonsalves, Lale Say, Peter Gichangi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP369966
- DOI 10.19204/2018/whts5
- Views 94
- Downloads 0
Quetiapine-related weight loss: Report of a rare adverse effect
Quetiapine is a second-generation antipsychotic that has been reported to be associated with moderate weight gain. Nevertheless, weight loss that is an infrequent adverse effect of quetiapine has been reported in a few c...
Exploring individual differences in online and face-to-face help-seeking intentions in case of impending mental health problems: The role of adult attachment, perceived social support, psychological distress and self-stigma
Background: Even though common mental health problems such as depression are a global burden calling for efficient prevention strategies, still many distressed individuals face hurdles to access public mental healthcare....
Workplace conflicts and psychological work-related injuries: our experience in Italy
In Europe, all countries regularly recognise mental disorders as workplace accidents (mainly post-traumatic stress disorders). However, there has been little emphasis on this emerging issue in Italy. Our discussion focus...
Education as a key determinant of health: A case study from rural Anhui, China
Introduction: Recent attention has focused on the emergence and causes of substantial health disparities between rural and urban residents in China. This study aims to identify which social determinants contribute to the...
Avoiding the apocalypse: a call for global action
According to an authoritative report published at the beginning of the 21th century, in the coming century the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will have to face the real ris...