Introduction: The Need for Digital Adolescent SRH in Bangladesh
Adolescence is a window of rapid growth where access to accurate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information can shape lifelong health outcomes. In Bangladesh, where adolescents comprise a significant portion of the population, traditional channels often fall short due to cultural taboos, stigma, and limited youth-focused services. The GoB has responded with adolescent health strategies and school-based programs, yet gaps remain in knowledge, privacy, and engagement. This study examines Mukhorito, a purpose-built Android app designed to supplement GoB efforts by fostering peer communication, interactive learning, and accessible SRH information for secondary school students.
What is Mukhorito?
Mukhorito, meaning “joyful” in Bengali, is an Android app that offers age-specific, self-paced modules across eight domains: physical changes, nutrition, mental health, gender discrimination and violence, child marriage, reproductive health and motherhood, safe motherhood, and drug use and STIs. The platform combines structured content with flashcards, posters, stories, quizzes, and a school-based chat room for anonymous peer discussion. It also links users to national helplines and health services, aiming to extend GoB’s on-site SRH education with digital reach.
Methods and Setting: Where Qualitative Insights Come From
Qualitative methods were employed to understand usability, acceptability, adoption, and the potential for peer-led learning via Mukhorito. The study took place in three secondary schools in Feni district (a boys’ school, a girls’ school, and a coeducational school). Participants included ninth-grade students (peers and general students), teachers, peer leaders, and Government of Bangladesh program officials. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews between March and June 2024, then analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify opportunities and challenges in digital SRH education.
Key Opportunities Identified
Structured, accessible content. Users praised Mukhorito’s clear organization into eight domains, enabling quick access to SRH information. As one peer leader noted, the app’s navigable design helps students locate topics easily and learn at their own pace.
Narrative and engagement. Stories following each topic contextualize information and improve retention. Students and teachers observed that stories make learning about SRH topics relatable within everyday life.
Awareness and empowerment. The platform broadened adolescents’ understanding of reproductive health, nutrition, puberty, and mental well-being. Participants highlighted increased confidence to discuss SRH issues, both within the classroom and among family members.
Open, peer-driven dialogue. The app’s chat room created a safe space for anonymous peer discussions, reducing hesitation previously linked to cultural taboos. This environment fostered collective problem-solving and peer support.
<strongLeadership development. Online sessions and interactive tasks cultivated leadership and communication skills, with students describing future-oriented benefits such as improved readiness for job interviews and teamwork.
Key Challenges and Constraints
Access to devices and connectivity. Rural and peri-urban areas faced limited smartphone ownership, shared devices, and inconsistent network access. Time constraints away from school and guardians’ control of devices further hindered engagement.
Infrastructure and cost barriers. Unreliable data, power outages, and the financial burden of internet use limited sustained participation, especially for students from lower-income households.
Scalability questions. While promising, questions remain about sustaining use beyond pilot settings, integrating with existing curricula, and aligning with national health programs for long-term impact.
Actionable Insights for Better Scale and Sustainability
Participants proposed concrete steps to strengthen Mukhorito’s impact: integrate the app across grades (starting from sixth), align with government adolescent health programs, add visually rich content such as short dramas or animations, and develop offline functionalities so key features work without constant internet access. These recommendations aim to improve accessibility, retention, and equity, particularly for students in underserved areas.
Embedding Mukhorito within the national school health framework could enable coordinated messaging, resource sharing, and streamlined referrals. The study also highlights the need for ongoing user-centered design to keep content culturally sensitive and responsive to adolescents’ evolving needs.
Discussion: How Mukhorito Fits into Global and Local Contexts
Findings align with broader evidence that well-designed mHealth tools can improve SRH knowledge and dialogue in LMICs by offering privacy, relevance, and peer support. The participatory, narrative approach differentiates Mukhorito from one-way information platforms and supports gradual cultural shifts toward open discussion of SRH topics. Yet, digital health equity remains a central challenge, underscoring the importance of offline options, affordable data, and device access for marginalized youth.
Conclusion: Toward Scalable, Culturally Sensitive Digital SRH
The Mukhorito app shows promise for enhancing adolescent SRH awareness, leadership, and engagement in Bangladesh. To realize scalable, sustained impact, developers and policymakers should address access barriers, enrich multimedia content, and ensure offline capabilities while integrating with national health programs. Future research should examine long-term behavior change and adaptation for diverse ages and regions, reinforcing Mukhorito as a cornerstone of adolescent health education in Bangladesh and similar LMICs.
