Using mobile technology to promote safe sex and sexual health in adolescents: current practices and future recommendations

• Main Authors: Cornelius JB, Appiah JA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2016-04-01
• Series: Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics
• Subjects: mobile; safe sex; sexual health; practices; recommendations
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/using-mobile-technology-to-promote-safe-sex-and-sexual-health-in-adole-peer-reviewed-article-AHMT

Judith B Cornelius,1 Josephine A Appiah2 1School of Nursing, 2Health Services Research Doctoral Program, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA Abstract: Youth and young adults (19–24 years of age) shoulder the burden of sexually transmitted infections accounting for nearly half of all new infections annually. Mobile technology is one way that we have reached this population with safer sex information but challenges exist with the delivery process. The literature between 2010 and 2015 was reviewed for data on safe sex and sexual health information delivered using mobile cell phone devices. A search for relevant databases revealed that 17 articles met our inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that mobile cell phone interventions are an effective mode for delivering safe sex and sexual health information to youth; those at the highest risk may not be able to access cell phones based on availability and cost of the text messages or data plans. Keywords: mobile, safe sex, sexual health, practices, recommendations