Title
Mobile technology access and use among adolescent mothers in Lima, Peru: Mixed methods study
Date Issued
01 July 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Levey E.J.
Onyeaka H.
Bartles S.M.
Calderon E.S.
Prom M.C.
Fesseha E.M.
Gelaye B.
Publisher(s)
JMIR Publications Inc.
Abstract
Background: Research shows promise for the use of mobile health interventions to improve access to care for mothers and infants. Although adolescent mothers in particular are comfortable with technology and often face barriers to accessing care, data on the use of digital interventions with young mothers are limited. Objective: This study aims to examine technology access and use behavior among adolescent mothers in Lima, Peru, to inform the development of technology-mediated perinatal interventions for high-risk mothers and infants in low- and middle-income countries and other areas with limited access to care. Methods: This mixed methods study consisted of a phone survey about technology access (N=29), focus group discussions with clinicians (N=25), and semistructured in-depth interviews with adolescent mothers (N=10) and their family members (N=8) in Lima. Results: All adolescent mothers surveyed had access to a smartphone, and nearly half had access to a computer or tablet. However, participants reported a number of obstacles to consistent smartphone access related to the financial precarity of their situations. Examples of this included difficulty affording phone services, using shared plans, and losing smartphones because of theft. Conclusions: These findings indicate that adolescent mothers are connected to technology, highlighting the potential scalability of technology-based health interventions for adolescent mothers in low- and middle-income countries while identifying barriers that need to be addressed.
Volume
4
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
PsiquiatrÃa
PediatrÃa
Subjects
DOI
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85115326112
Source
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
ISSN of the container
25616722
Sponsor(s)
The authors wish to thank the dedicated staff members of Asociación Civil Proyectos en Salud, Peru, and Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Peru, for their expert technical assistance with this research. This research was supported by awards from the National Institutes of Health (K23-MH-115169, T32-HD-007168, R01-HD-102342, and T32-MH-116140). The National Institutes of Health had no further role in study design; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; the writing of the report; and the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción CientÃfica
Scopus