TY - JOUR T1 - Using Digital Technology for Sexual and Reproductive Health: Are Programs Adequately Considering Risk? JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT SP - 507 LP - 514 DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00239 VL - 7 IS - 4 AU - Loraine J. Bacchus AU - Kate Reiss AU - Kathryn Church AU - Manuela Colombini AU - Erin Pearson AU - Ruchira Naved AU - Chris Smith AU - Kathryn Andersen AU - Caroline Free Y1 - 2019/12/23 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/7/4/507.abstract N2 - Digital technologies provide opportunities for advancing sexual and reproductive health and services but also present potential risks. We propose 4 steps to reducing potential harms: (1) consider potential harms during intervention design, (2) mitigate or minimize potential harms during the design phase, (3) measure adverse outcomes during implementation, and (4) plan how to support those reporting adverse outcomes.Health care is increasingly being delivered through digital channels such as the internet, mobile phone messaging, social media, apps, voice, video messaging, and telemedicine. This trend has been facilitated by diffusion of mobile technology and rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Digital communication channels offer wide coverage, allow messaging to be targeted to particular groups or individuals, and offer potential for enhancing the delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and support.Recent developments in the SRHR field include the provision of online testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that have been shown to almost double the uptake of STI tests1 and e-contraception whereby the oral contraceptive pill can be ordered online.2 Telemedicine in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) can overcome geographic or social and behavioral barriers to accessing services and facilitate self-use of products or services.3 It has been used to support medication abortion and facilitate distribution of abortifacient pills backed up by remote care and support.4 Interventions targeting a range of populations and SRHR topics across different cultural contexts have been shown to be acceptable to the end user and feasible to implement.4–8 Interventions can be designed to be accessible across socioeconomic groups and to those at high risk.2,9,10 Improvements in knowledge and contraceptive or health-seeking behavior have been demonstrated.6,11–13 However, not all studies show benefits, as exemplified by the Reiss … ER -