Using mobile phones for adolescent research in low and middle income countries: preliminary findings from the birth to twenty cohort, South Africa.
Mobile phones enable engagement with adolescents through a familiar medium. Survey data are presented from 2,023 South African adolescents who were asked about phone ownership, usage, and their willingness to divulge sensitive information in short message service surveys. Barriers to participation are addressed as are recommendations for follow-up research.
Child Family Youth and Social Development, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. avanheerden@hsrc.ac.za
Alastair C
AC
van Heerden
Shane A
SA
Norris
Linda M
LM
Richter
D000293:Adolescent; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D012107:Research Design; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult