title: U.S. Minority Homeless Youth's Access to and Use of Mobile Phones: Implications for mHealth Intervention Design.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: a Department of International Health, Social and Behavioral Interventions Program , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: a Department of International Health, Social and Behavioral Interventions Program , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: b Sasha Bruce Youthwork , Washington , District of Columbia , USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.affiliation: c University of Maryland School of Social Work , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.|d AIRS City Steps , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Strohminger
authors.affiliation: d AIRS City Steps , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Burgundi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: e Department of Health Behavior , University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Donaldson F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Conserve
authors.affiliation: a Department of International Health, Social and Behavioral Interventions Program , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.|f Department of Health, Behavior and Society , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cheskin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017216:Telemedicine; D014481:United States