Exploring Family Planning and Mobile Phone Use among Low-Literate Population in Peri-Urban Areas of Delhi, India

The study aimed to understand the general attitudes, values, and norms about family health in the study population, as well as their access to health information, knowledge about the menstrual cycle, fertility, and family planning, and their use of mobile phones. The study was conducted in three sites: Ashoknagar, Loni, and Dankaur, which are peri-urban areas of Delhi bordering with Utter Pradesh. The study team identified 69 eligible participants, who were married men and women aged 18-34 years and owned or had access to a mobile phone. The participants were surveyed using a participant eligibility guide, and 27 participants were selected for the study. The study found that despite the Indian government's efforts to increase the reach of family planning services, about one-fourth of the women reported that their pregnancy was unintended. The study also highlighted the importance of social factors such as female literacy, age at marriage of girls, status of women, and lack of male involvement in family planning in the context of family planning. The IRH developed a mobile phone service called CycleTel, which facilitates the use of a family planning method with Short Message Service (SMS). CycleTel is based on the Standard Days Method (SDM), a fertility awareness-based method of family planning recognized as an evidence-based practice by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study aimed to test CycleTel among low-literate population groups in peri-urban areas of Delhi. The study team conducted interviews with the participants to gather information about their socio-demographic profile, family type, health concerns, sources of health information, fertility awareness, fertility desires, awareness of and experiences with family planning methods, and use of mobile phones. The study also explored the participants' experience with the call centre, recharge issues, concept of receiving health and family planning information, and views on acceptance of mobile-based services. The study found that women and men with lower levels of literacy access health information through various sources, including community-based organizations, health workers, and family members. The study also found that the general level of knowledge about the menstrual cycle, fertility, and family planning was low among the participants. The study suggested that mobile phones are seen as an acceptable way of accessing health and/or family planning information, and people react positively to simulated mobile phone messages about the Standard Days Method. The study concluded that the use of mobile phones can be an effective way to increase access to family planning information and services, particularly among low-literate populations. The study recommended that CycleTel be tested among a larger sample of participants to assess its effectiveness in improving family planning knowledge and practices among low-literate populations in peri-urban areas of Delhi.