Using mHealth to provide sexual and reproductive health services to young people in rural Ghana: health care providers’ perspectives

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies are increasingly being used in innovative ways to overcome traditional barriers to the provision of, and access to, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among young people in rural low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). In rural Ghana, mHealth platforms are now being implemented by health care providers (HCPs) to improve access to SRH information for young people. However, the actual use of these platforms from the perspective of HCPs has not yet been explored. This study investigated HCPs' perspectives on the availability of mHealth platforms in rural Ghana and the perceived benefits of using such platforms to provide SRH information and services to rural dwelling young people. A qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with a convenience sample of 20 HCPs across three rural regions of Ghana. Participants were recruited using the snowballing method between May and August 2021. Interviews were audio recorded via Zoom with participants' consent. The data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. All participants had experience providing mHealth-based SRH information and services to young people in rural Ghana. The mobile platforms used included phone calls, text messages, voice messages, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. These platforms facilitated SRH education on contraception,Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), sexually transmissible infections, hygiene, and menstruation. HCPs reported several benefits of using mHealth, including ease and convenience, low cost, anonymity, privacy and confidentiality (especially in light of socio-cultural norms and religious beliefs), reduced healthcare delivery workload, and reduced pressure on limited health infrastructure. The findings suggest that innovative mHealth platforms have the potential to improve young people's access to conventional SRH information and services in rural Ghana. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the preferred and acceptable use of these platforms among users. The results highlight the acceptability and utility of mHealth, as well as the need for its wider adoption and integration. While the provision of SRH information and services through mHealth is promising, further research is needed to understand the barriers that affect access and delivery for young people in rural communities.