mCenas!

From September 2013 to June 2014, Pathfinder International implemented the mCenas! project in Maputo and Inhambane provinces of Mozambique. The project used SMS to expand access to sexual and reproductive health information, and consequently improve sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy among youth ages 15 to 24. The SMS system had three main components: • A story delivered through SMS messages that youth can relate to and draw on for further dialogue and reflection with peers. • Informational messages about each contraceptive method. • An interactive “frequently asked questions” function where youth can ping the system for information about a range of sexual and reproductive health topics. An evaluation of the project concluded that: • mCenas! contributed to an increase in the number of contraceptive methods young people knew about. • Perceptions of safety, ease of use, and effectiveness improved significantly among males and females for multiple modern methods. • The interventions contributed to some increases in intention to use a method in the future. • Youth were better informed about contraception and its effects following exposure to the SMS interventions. • Self-efficacy at both baseline and endline was high for males and low for females. • Participants were largely satisfied with the intervention, felt comfortable sending and receiving SMS messages about sexual and reproductive health, and expressed willingness to receive SMS messages on sexual and reproductive health in the future.

http://www.pathfinder.org/projects/mcenas/

Local implementation: Mozambique, Maputo and Inhambane provinces

Completed from 01/09/2013 to 30/06/2014

USAID-funded Extending Service Delivery/Family Planning Initiative USAID-funded Evidence to Action Project Dimagi Inc.

* Access to information and knowledge

• Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

• Project