Association between exposure to social media and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health among adolescent girls: evidence from the UDAYA survey in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India

• Published in: Reproductive health 2022-08, Vol.19 (1), p.1-178, Article 178
• Main Authors: Saha, Ria, Paul, Pintu, Yaya, Sanni, Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent health; Adolescents; Analysis; Bihar; Birth control; Boys; Cellular telephones; Child development; Children & youth; Females; Girls; Gynecology; Health aspects; Households; Information seeking behavior; Internet; Interviews; Knowledge; Menstruation; Population; Pregnancy; Reproductive health; Rural areas; Sexual and reproductive health; Social aspects; Social media; Social networks; Sociodemographics; Teenage girls; Teenagers; Telemedicine; Urban areas; Uttar Pradesh; Womens health; Young adults
• ISSN: 1742-4755; 1742-4755
• DOI: 10.1186/s12978-022-01487-7

Background Poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes amongst adolescent girls in India have been associated with inadequate knowledge of SRH. Evidence suggests that social media can promote health-seeking behaviors. Our objective in this study was to determine the association between exposure to social media and SRH knowledge among adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 10,425 adolescent girls from the UDAYA survey (wave-2, 2018-19). Girls' exposure to social media was the key predictor, and SRH knowledge of sexual intercourse and pregnancy, contraceptive methods, and HIV/AIDS were outcomes of interest. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between exposure to social media and knowledge of SRH among adolescent girls. Results Of the study participants (n = 10,425), 28.0% (n = 3,160) had exposure to social media. Overall, 8.7%, 11.4%, and 6.6% of respondents had sufficient knowledge of sexual intercourse and pregnancy, contraceptive methods, and HIV/AIDS, respectively. Exposure to social media was associated with increased odds of knowledge of sexual intercourse and pregnancy (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18, 1.61), contraceptive methods (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.27, 1.67), and HIV/AIDS (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.84, 2.58). Conclusions Our study shows the potency of exposure to social media in influencing SRH knowledge, which exclusively benefits female adolescents who are educated, residing in urban areas, and from wealthier families. Digital media-focused interventions inclusive of socio-cultural contexts (e.g., strategic investment in education and creating economic opportunities) are crucial to optimize social media's impact on SRH knowledge enhancements. Keywords: Adolescents, Adolescent health, Sexual and reproductive health, Social media, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, India