A Mobile App (MyPeer) Co-Designed With Immigrant Adolescents for Better Sexual and Reproductive Health: Usability Study
1
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2094
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Adolescents require comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education to navigate puberty and the transition to adulthood successfully. However, many adolescents encounter barriers when seeking SRH information and services. These challenges are often intensified for youth from migrant backgrounds due to cultural taboos, stigma, and limited access to culturally appropriate resources. Mobile health interventions offer a promising approach to delivering accessible, evidence-based, and culturally relevant SRH information. Despite this potential, few SRH mobile applications in Canada are co-designed with immigrant adolescents.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to co-design a culturally relevant and evidence-based SRH mobile application with immigrant adolescents.
METHODS:
We employed a community-based participatory research approach guided by principles of human-centered design to co-design the app. For usability testing, we recruited immigrant adolescents and interest holders working with immigrant youth. Adolescents participated in moderated focus group discussions (FGDs), while interest holders evaluated the app using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). FGDs were audio-recorded and analyzed thematically to inform app refinements. MARS scores were analyzed descriptively.
RESULTS:
A total of 25 adolescents and 17 interest holders participated. FGD findings were categorized into four themes: (1) navigation and interface, (2) SRH information quality and learning, (3) technical performance, and (4) accessibility and multimedia usability. Adolescents found the app visually appealing, easy to navigate, and valued interactive features such as quizzes and multimedia content. Identified issues included navigation inconsistencies, map-related glitches, and requests for more in-depth SRH content. MARS ratings indicated high functionality (mean 4.3), strong aesthetics (mean 4.1), and moderate engagement (mean 3.7). Customization (mean 2.5) and interactivity (mean 3.1) received lower scores.
CONCLUSIONS:
MyPeer demonstrates strong usability and appeal as a youth-centered SRH digital tool. Participatory design enabled the identification of key technical and content improvements and highlights the value of co-design approaches in developing scalable digital SRH interventions.
Adolescents require comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education to navigate puberty and the transition to adulthood successfully. However, many adolescents encounter barriers when seeking SRH information and services. These challenges are often intensified for youth from migrant backgrounds due to cultural taboos, stigma, and limited access to culturally appropriate resources. Mobile health interventions offer a promising approach to delivering accessible, evidence-based, and culturally relevant SRH information. Despite this potential, few SRH mobile applications in Canada are co-designed with immigrant adolescents.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to co-design a culturally relevant and evidence-based SRH mobile application with immigrant adolescents.
METHODS:
We employed a community-based participatory research approach guided by principles of human-centered design to co-design the app. For usability testing, we recruited immigrant adolescents and interest holders working with immigrant youth. Adolescents participated in moderated focus group discussions (FGDs), while interest holders evaluated the app using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). FGDs were audio-recorded and analyzed thematically to inform app refinements. MARS scores were analyzed descriptively.
RESULTS:
A total of 25 adolescents and 17 interest holders participated. FGD findings were categorized into four themes: (1) navigation and interface, (2) SRH information quality and learning, (3) technical performance, and (4) accessibility and multimedia usability. Adolescents found the app visually appealing, easy to navigate, and valued interactive features such as quizzes and multimedia content. Identified issues included navigation inconsistencies, map-related glitches, and requests for more in-depth SRH content. MARS ratings indicated high functionality (mean 4.3), strong aesthetics (mean 4.1), and moderate engagement (mean 3.7). Customization (mean 2.5) and interactivity (mean 3.1) received lower scores.
CONCLUSIONS:
MyPeer demonstrates strong usability and appeal as a youth-centered SRH digital tool. Participatory design enabled the identification of key technical and content improvements and highlights the value of co-design approaches in developing scalable digital SRH interventions.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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