TY - JOUR
T1 - U.S. Minority Homeless Youth’s Access to and Use of Mobile Phones
T2 - Implications for mHealth Intervention Design
AU - Mayo-Wilson, Larissa Jennings
AU - Lee, Nicole
AU - Shore, Deborah
AU - Strohminger, Nancy
AU - Allison, Burgundi
AU - Conserve, Donaldson F.
AU - Cheskin, Lawrence J
PY - 2016/5/27
Y1 - 2016/5/27
N2 - Few interventions for homeless youth have leveraged the potential of mHealth technologies, in part because of the limited data on phone behaviors, perceptions, and intervention preferences among youth experiencing homelessness. We conducted 9 focus groups (n = 52 homeless youth) and 41 individual structured interviews also with homeless youth in underserved communities in Baltimore and Washington, DC, to ascertain how youth perceived their mobile phone, acquired and maintained mobile services over time, and thought mHealth programs for this population should be designed. We also measured phone use, functionality, source, duration of ownership, and reasons for changing phones or numbers. Results showed that mobile coverage was high, as most youth self-purchased phones or received gift payments from others. Maintaining mobile connectivity was often challenging because of financial constraints and interpersonal conflict. Youth valued phones to access social support but used several tactics to avoid perceived negative consequences of phone ownership, such as harassment, theft, or relational disputes. Youth most preferred mHealth content relating to sexual, reproductive, and mental health provided that mobile communication was confidential, empowering, and integrated with other digital media. Integrating hidden phones, financial support, and safety management may improve homeless youth’s access to and engagement with mHealth strategies over time.
AB - Few interventions for homeless youth have leveraged the potential of mHealth technologies, in part because of the limited data on phone behaviors, perceptions, and intervention preferences among youth experiencing homelessness. We conducted 9 focus groups (n = 52 homeless youth) and 41 individual structured interviews also with homeless youth in underserved communities in Baltimore and Washington, DC, to ascertain how youth perceived their mobile phone, acquired and maintained mobile services over time, and thought mHealth programs for this population should be designed. We also measured phone use, functionality, source, duration of ownership, and reasons for changing phones or numbers. Results showed that mobile coverage was high, as most youth self-purchased phones or received gift payments from others. Maintaining mobile connectivity was often challenging because of financial constraints and interpersonal conflict. Youth valued phones to access social support but used several tactics to avoid perceived negative consequences of phone ownership, such as harassment, theft, or relational disputes. Youth most preferred mHealth content relating to sexual, reproductive, and mental health provided that mobile communication was confidential, empowering, and integrated with other digital media. Integrating hidden phones, financial support, and safety management may improve homeless youth’s access to and engagement with mHealth strategies over time.
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U2 - 10.1080/10810730.2015.1103331
DO - 10.1080/10810730.2015.1103331
M3 - Article
C2 - 27232544
AN - SCOPUS:84970004143
SN - 1081-0730
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Journal of Health Communication
JF - Journal of Health Communication
ER -