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. 2019 Jul 8;16(1):97.
doi: 10.1186/s12978-019-0767-9.

Acceptability, feasibility and utility of a Mobile health family planning decision aid for postpartum women in Kenya

Rubee Dev  1 , Nancy F Woods  2 , Jennifer A Unger  3 , John Kinuthia  4 , Daniel Matemo  4 , Shiza Farid  5 , Emily R Begnel  5 , Pamela Kohler  6 , Alison L Drake  5
Affiliations

Acceptability, feasibility and utility of a Mobile health family planning decision aid for postpartum women in Kenya

Rubee Dev et al. Reprod Health. .

Abstract

Background: Unmet need for contraception is high during the postpartum period, increasing the risk of unintended subsequent pregnancy. We developed a client facing mobile phone-based family planning (FP) decision aid and assessed acceptability, feasibility, and utility of the tool among health care providers and postpartum women.

Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted among postpartum women (n = 25) and FP providers (n = 17) at 4 Kenyan maternal and child health clinics, 2 in the Nyanza region (Kisumu and Siaya Counties) and 2 in Nairobi. Stratified purposive sampling was used to enroll postpartum women and FP providers. Data were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach by 3 independent coders, with consensual validation.

Results: FP providers stated that the Interactive Mobile Application for Contraceptive Choice (iMACC) tool contained the necessary information about contraceptive methods for postpartum women and believed that it would be a useful tool to help women make informed, voluntary decisions. Most women valued the decision aid content, and described it as being useful in helping to dispel myths and misconceptions, setting realistic expectations about potential side effects and maintaining confidentiality. Both women and providers expressed concerns about literacy and lack of familiarity with smart phones or tablets and suggested inclusion of interactive multimedia such as audio or videos to optimize the effectiveness of the tool.

Conclusions: The iMACC decision aid was perceived to be an acceptable tool to deliver client-centered FP counseling by both women and providers. Counseling tools that can support FP providers to help postpartum women make informed and individualized FP decisions in resource-limited settings may help improve FP counseling and contraceptive use in the postpartum period.

Keywords: Contraceptive counseling; Decision aid; Family planning; Postpartum.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Interactive mobile application for contraceptive choice (iMACC) screen shots of selected content of (a) Assessment of medical eligibility criteria (b) Assessment of preferences and concerns (c) Dispelling common myths and misconceptions (d) Provision of information about oral contraceptive pills
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Integrated theoretical framework guiding contraceptive use
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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