Research Article, J Womens Health Issues Care Vol: 5 Issue: 2
Mobile Applications for Contraception Information: A Short Overview
| Aparna Sridhar*, Angel C Robinson and Karen Roque |
| David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA |
| Corresponding author : Aparna Sridhar 10833 Le Conte Ave CHS 22-229 Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA E-mail: asridhar@mednet.ucla.edu |
| Received: November 20, 2015 Accepted: March 18, 2016 Published: March 23, 2016 |
| Citation: Sridhar A, Robinson AC, Roque K (2016) Mobile Applications for Contraception Information: A Short Overview. J Womens Health, Issues Care 5:2. doi:10.4172/2325-9795.1000223 |
Abstract
The use of modern technological devices such as smartphones and tablets is increasing in the U.S. One in five smartphone owners have a mobile application related to health. Although there are many healthcare applications regarding contraception, little has been published about the content and functionalities of these applications. There is lack of information regarding the accuracy of content of mobile health applications in general and those related to contraception and family planning in particular. At University of California Los Angeles, we reviewed the mobile applications that were listed by searching the iOS platform with keywords related to contraception and family planning. Of 160 applications with contraception related content 16 were primarily geared towards healthcare providers. These included journals, textbooks and reference guides. 144 applications were targeted towards reproductive age men and women and included menstrual cycle trackers (40), birth control reminders (26), games (16), sexual health information applications (40) and applications to locate family planning centers (22). Mobile applications offer guidance for “effective contraception use; however”, it is difficult to track each application’s references and the frequency with which it is updated.. It is thus very important to maintain a healthy sense of skepticism regarding the safety and accuracy of content of these mobile applications.
