Project Title
Co-designing a mobile application with immigrant adolescents for better sexual and reproductive health
Project Leads
Salima Meherali, Sarah Munro, Wendy Norman, Shannon Scott, Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Objectives
The objectives of co-design project are: (1) to better understand immigrant adolescents’ information, educational support and service access needs related to SRH; (2) To engage immigrant adolescents in the development of an interactive mobile sexual health promotion app; (3) to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of mobile health or mHealth (the use of mobile phones to improve health) intervention; and (4) to mobilize the research outcomes to a variety of stakeholders (such as immigrant adolescents, immigrant service agencies, etc.).
Background
Adolescents and young people are a heterogeneous group–in different stages of development, living in different circumstances, and with differing and changing needs. Neglect of specific adolescents sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs can pose serious challenges and affect physical and mental health, future employment, economic wellbeing, and adolescents’ ability to reach their full potential. The evolving needs of Canada’s diverse adolescent communities demonstrate a need to update the current state of SRH services and information available to them. Innovative ways to deliver sexual health information are more important than ever before due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to SRH services globally. Amidst the pandemic, technology has largely provided the means to support a recalibration of health systems, service provision, and information delivery. Today it is easier than ever before to access SRH information from digital media. However, the information available varies widely in accuracy and largely lacks a strong research base. Smartphone usage among North American adolescents, including immigrant adolescents, is commonplace. Smartphone applications have been shown to be highly effective in providing health information to adolescents. Therefore, the overarching purpose of this community based participatory action research is to actively engage with immigrant adolescents to develop, implement, and evaluate mobile health or health intervention (i.e., mobile app) to improve SRH information of immigrant adolescents in Canada. The interactive mobile app will aim to deliver accurate and evidence-based SRH information to adolescents.
Methods
We will use community-based participatory action research to guide our study. This research project will be conducted in four stages structured based on user-centered design principles. Stage 1 Empathize: Recruit, convene, and train three adolescents’ advisory groups (in Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver). Stage 2 Define and Ideate: Explore SRH information and service needs through focus groups (FGs) with immigrant adolescents (3–4 FGs in each city, total n=60–80). Stage 3 Prototype: Collaborate with mobile developers to build and iteratively design the app with support from adolescent advisors. Stage 4 Test: Return to focus group settings to share the app prototype, gather feedback on usability, refine, and release the app.
Current Status
Stage 3 in progress
Expected completion
March 2025
Co-researchers & Partners
Ashley Vandermorris; Bukola Salami; Eleni Stroulia; James Benoit; Josephine Wong; Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika; Sarah Flicker; Planned Parenthood Toronto; Options for Sexual health BC; YWCA Edmonton; Alliance for South Asian Aids Prevention Toronto; Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative Edmonton
Funding
Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR): Early Career Investigator Grants in Maternal, Reproductive, Child & Youth Health
Key words
Adolescents, immigrants, sexual and reproductive health, knowledge translation, digital tool