• In Kenya, the non-governmental organization LVCT uses the one2one Integrated Digital Platform to provide adolescents and youth with linkages to HIV, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services. The organization uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology that routes calls over a central server to peer counselors, who provide confidential and non-judgmental SRH information. The platform’s ease of use, variety of content, convenience, confidentiality, and interactive nature have been credited for its ability to reach more than 2.7 million youth and adolescents aged 10-24 years through its hotline, SMS platform, social media platforms and radio segments (Adolescent Health Symposium, 2017).
• In Uganda, Hostalite Cyber Academy and Vodafone joined hands with Marie Stopes in boosting reproductive health among University Students. They organized the first ever inter-university hackathon on health with emphasis on sexual reproductive health. The hackathon that attracted local developers and innovators from 12 universities across Uganda, is in response to the growing commitment to leverage information and communication technologies to empower young people (Marie Stopes, 2017). Public Health Ambassadors Uganda is encouraging youth to use digital technologies to share stories on sexual and reproductive health with a global audience (Public Health Ambassadors Uganda, 2016)
• In Tanzania, FHI360’s Mobile for Reproductive Health (m4RH) program was able to reach more than 300,000 users via text message. In addition to reaching women, it also succeeded he intervention both male and female youth with information about family planning via automated text messages on mobile phones. To track changes in contraceptive use, m4RH texted participants asking how m4RH has changed their use of family planning. Although m4RH was not able to track how many participants adopted contraceptive or switched to more effective options as a result of the intervention, it did show that mobile phone interventions are an effective way to reach youth, in particular, in the developing country context (L’Engle et al., 2013).

Digital health strategies should be linked with other approaches such as interpersonal communication, community mobilization and mass media. The target audience should be engaged in the development and dissemination of digital health applications. This will ensure the digital health strategy is an appropriate solution to actual and perceived needs as well as to inform the content and the dissemination mechanism.

1. Identify the most appropriate type of technology to use, content (language) and format for using it and involve adolescents and youth early in the design process.

It is recommended to use existing platforms that the end users are familiar with rather than investing in new platforms. This will also reduce the barriers to accessing certain platforms depending on cost, quality and reach. An individual’s privacy should be assured as SRH information is sensitive.

2. Pretest content for suitability and appropriateness before application or dissemination to end users.

The recipients have to understand content shared with them in the intended way to avoid misinterpretation. The language used should be simple and where possible adapted to local lingo or slang popular in the community.

3. Share information about the various SRH services and benefits of contraception and family planning. Use East Africa: Myths and Misconceptions Pamphlets.

4. Use a variety of platforms, including social media platforms, as is feasible, for increased retention and comprehension.

5. Monitor and evaluate through quantitative and qualitative approaches such as user surveys or inbuilt analytics deployed via the digital platform

• Monitor outcomes of digital activities including level of exposure to digital health tools
• Evaluate impact of digital approaches on client and provider behavior

• Increase in new FP acceptors
• Proportion of clients reached through digital platforms by age and sex disaggregation

• Research, technology development (e.g., software, programming, server), hardware, data
• SMS, airtime, data time, staff, and promotion

• Nurture local health team’s capacity to develop and maintain digital tools and platforms
• Build digital platforms on existing governance structures
• Partner with local youth organizations with active online or digital presence