Healthcare Provider Perspectives regarding the Role of mHealth in increasing Access to, and Awareness and Use of Sexually Transmissible Infection Services by Women in Bangladesh (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Although 61% of married women in Bangladesh use contraceptive methods, the prevalence of contraceptive use is lower in rural areas than in urban areas. This has implications for rates of Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs). Cases of STIs are under-reported in Bangladesh and consequently, the awareness level, knowledge of, and use of services to minimize and prevent STI transmission among women is low. Mobile health (mHealth) services present an emerging platform for increasing the awareness and use of STI services for women at risk. OBJECTIVE To explore medical doctors’ perceptions of mHealth services for imporving awareness, use of, and access to STI health services for Bangladeshi women. METHODS 22 interviews were conducted with medical doctors in a private mHealth service delivery organization. Interview data was analysed through inductive content analysis. RESULTS Participants perceived mHealth as increasing awareness of STI health information, as well as the use of STI services by women. Participants also noted facilitators of service use, including the minimal cost to the use of services, as well as the timeliness and ease of accessibility of the service. CONCLUSIONS mHealth services are beneficial for increasing the aceces too, and awareness and and use STI services by Bangledeshi women. Within the existing cultural context, our data suggest that mHealth provide a means for women to have greater agency in their sexual health. The data suggest a need to expand mHealth services for improving prevention and management of STIs in Bangledeshi women.