4 amazing things happened when peer educators tested our Outreach Tablets
Digital tech provides a cost-effective, and highly suitable communication channel, but is under-utilised in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programming in low-income countries
Our Outreach Tablets are changing the way peer educators provide SRHR information in under-served communities. This year, 42 peer educators in Uganda helped improve our tablets’ functionality and efficiency – using user experience design (UX).
#1 – Real world application wins.
“Practically, this was impossible. It couldn’t be done. Even if it is for fun!”
Back in 2020, one prototype hand crank charger ticked all the boxes on paper, but feedback from one peer educator made clear it wasn’t as effective in the real world: “Practically, this was impossible. It couldn’t be done. Even if it is for fun!” said one peer educator. Taking these comments to heart, we disregarded this prototype. Today, our Outreach Tablets conserve power to ensure charging concerns are the last thing on peer educators’ minds as they travel to remote communities.
#2 - Digital content draws a crowd.
When peer educators use our Outreach Tablets in under-served areas, community members - banana salesmen, motorbike drivers and mothers returning from market - stop to watch digital content on SRHR issues from contraception to safe motherhood. Peer educators agree our Outreach Tablets are a highly effective and engaging channel of communication to provide SRHR information.
#3 – When used right, analogies simplify complex digital functions.
Our Outreach Tablets’ offline functionality is easiest explained using an analogy of honeybees. As queen bees, peer educators can lead other nearby tablets - or worker bees – as a hive to share content, play videos simultaneously or host game-show quizzes to test SRHR knowledge at larger sessions. After one chaotic session when all the participants wanted to be the queen bee, we learned the power of the analogy and the importance of asking others to opt into the hive.
#4 - Ensuring an enjoyable user experience.
While 92% of peer educators expressed user satisfaction, we addressed feedback about the colour scheme and ‘clunky’ navigation. We continue to declutter navigation and simplify the interface design. As peer educators continue to interact with the Outreach Tablets, we want to ensure consistency, and an enjoyable pleasurable experience. All feedback is welcome.
As we scale-up availability of our Outreach Tablets in Uganda and Ethiopia, upgrading the user experience is a long-term investment. Next, we will be working with peer educators to co-create youth friendly digital SRHR content for use on our Outreach Tablets.
As part of our Knowledge and Information on Safe Sex (KISS) in Fort Portal, Uganda., we are upgrading the user experience of our Outreach Tablets alongside other digital tech solutions to improve young people’s access to SRHR information.