Media interface with teenagers on reproductive health : Impact study

Abstract

The media-adolescent reproductive health interface has in the current digital and information era become a very strong  but convoluted relationship. This critical review article will review research done to evaluate the influence of both old  media (including television, radio and print) as well as some new media (social media, websites, blogs, and mobile  applications) on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of teens pertaining to their reproductive health. Teenagers are  an extremely important population group in terms of health, and are becoming increasingly exposed to public health  sources of information (aided by no filters or guidance in many cases), which is largely unregulated. The traditional  media, which has been utilized in the past in raising awareness and that enjoyed some form of decline in popularity  and exposure among young people, still plays a role in determining the extent of awareness. Conversely, new media  introduces huge potentials of personalized, peer-to-peer and interactive content and equally brings up issues of mis information, sensationalism and privacy. Using the analysis of empirical studies, interventions in the area of public  health, and the media trends, this review indicates the influence of the convergence of media technologies on sexual and  reproductive health education between teenagers. Digital literacy, parental mediation, and culturally sensitive content  are also highlighted by the study as a way to generate the maximum of positive impacts. The suggestions of including the  presence of media strategies in the education programs on adolescents health are addressed, and efforts are suggested  toward the collaboration of educators, medical workers, anyone engaging in content creation, and the policy developers.