CoYoMen
CO-YO-MEN stands for “Contraceptive Use among Young-unmarried Men”. It was a study conducted between 2016-2018 focusing on feasibility of using Short Message Service (SMS) as a tool for collecting data on contraceptive preferences, practices and needs of young, unmarried sexually active men in Moshi-Kilimanjaro. We involved local bus drivers, students, and mountain porters aged between 18-29 years as our study participants. In this study, we sent Short Message Service (SMS) to our respondents based on contraceptive topics followed by repeated interviews to participants who replied not to have used any contraceptive in the past week. Despite observed challenges on network and individual based challenges, the SMS system was feasible in Moshi.
CoYoMen was conducted with support from the Grand Challenges Fund from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
ONDOILO
In this study, we developed an interactive voice response calling (IVRC) system called Embiotishu. The project plan was comprised with three phase including data collection, development of the system and piloting the system.
In Phase one, a medical abstraction was performed based on the standard clinic card for family planning (RCH card no.5). Information collected were; clinic visit dates, reproductive history, current contraceptive use and prescribed contraceptives. Later, several meetings and workshops were organized with the Maasai and health care providers, including obstetricians, to set the criteria and contents of the system.
In phase two, The Embiotishu contents were developed based on the information obtained during the basic assessment and discussion during meetings. The contents development in line with the Tanzanian guidelines for family planning and approved by the specialist obstetrician in our project. After completion, the Texts were translated to Maa (Maasai language) and categorized based on different themes including reproductive health, family planning, contraceptives and STIs/AIDS. Texts were converted to audio in Maa language and loaded them in the Embiotishu system to communicate via interactive voice response calling (IVRC).
In phase three, before piloting, we conducted seminars with both parties (Maasai and Health providers) to introduce the Embiotishu system. We deployed the system forever a period of 20 months.
Throughout the process of piloting the IVR, feedback of discussions and meeting indicated majority of Maasai were interested with the system particular on the contraceptive use contents.
