Influence of mHealth SMS utilization on adolescents’ attitude towards risky sexual behavior in Homa-Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

Abstract Risky Sexual Behaviors (RSB) refers to behaviors leading to unintended pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Adolescents’ Risky Sexual Behavior (RSB) is a global public health concern. In Kenya, 21% of adolescents are reported to have had their sexual debut before 15 years; while in Homa-Bay County, 60% of adolescent are reported to have had their sexual debut before 15 years which is thrice the national prevalence. Globally, mHealth technology has been successful in improving health knowledge and awareness, behavior change, and other health outcomes. The aim of this paper was to assess influence of mHealth SMS utilization on adolescents’ attitude towards risky sexual behavior in Homa-Bay County, Kenya. The study design was experimental. A communitybased single-blind Randomized Control Trial (RCT) was used. Pretest post-test study were conducted to establish the influence of mHealth SMS utilization on risky sexual behavior. The Intervention was interactive Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) SMS to the treatment group while the control group received noninteractive Malaria prevention SMS. The overall level of positive attitude towards RSB at pre-test was 79(22.1%) and 73(24.1%) at post-test. There was an association between mHealth SMS and adolescents’ attitude towards RSB (O.R.=1.916; C.I.=0.78-3.82; P=0.003; χ2=27.92). mHealth SMS had a positive influence on sexual activity P=0.075, safe sex P=0.033 and sexual partners P=0.009 but not on alcohol/drugs P=0.214. The study concluded mHealth SMS intervention has a positive influence adolescents’ RSB.