A scoping review of digital interventions for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges remain a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where high rates of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unmet contraceptive needs persist. Traditional SRH education and service de...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Discover Public Health Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 1 - 28
Autores principales: Esan, Blessing Titilope, Ngwai, Yakubu Boyi, Akyala, Adamu Ishaku, Esan, Oluwafemi Adebukola, Olugbemi, Moses Kayode, Aremu, Stephen Olaide
Formato: research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature 8/28/2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges remain a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where high rates of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unmet contraceptive needs persist. Traditional SRH education and service delivery approaches often fail to effectively reach adolescents due to stigma, limited access, and inadequate health infrastructure. With the rapid expansion of mobile technology and internet connectivity, digital interventions have emerged as innovative tools for improving SRH knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among young people. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize existing evidence on digital interventions designed to enhance adolescent SRH outcomes in SSA, identify key trends, assess effectiveness, and highlight gaps for future research and practice. Methods: Following Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Eligible studies focused on adolescents aged 10–19 years, implemented digital-based SRH interventions, and were conducted in SSA. Data were extracted on study characteristics, intervention types, outcomes, and implementation challenges. A narrative synthesis was used to summarize findings. Results: Sixty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions primarily employed SMS messaging, mobile applications, social media campaigns, web portals, and telehealth platforms. Most reported improvements in SRH knowledge, HIV testing uptake, and contraceptive use. However, evidence of sustained behavioral change was limited. Implementation challenges included poor internet access, gender disparities in device ownership, privacy concerns, and inadequate policy support. Conclusion: Digital interventions show significant potential for advancing adolescent SRH in SSA, but scalability and sustainability remain constrained by structural and contextual barriers. Future programs should emphasize equity, cultural sensitivity, participatory design, and robust evaluation frameworks to maximize impact.