Development of an mHealth App Prototype for LGBTQIA+ Individuals' Sexual and Reproductive Health in Gauteng Province, South Africa: Design Science Research Study.
Seretlo R, Mokgatle M, Smuts H, Sepeng N • JMIR formative research • 2025
A co-created mHealth app prototype named 'Queery wellness hub' was developed using Design Science Research to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Gauteng Province, South Africa, incorporating features tailored to enhance accessibility, confidentiality, and user engagement.
Key Findings
Results
The study identified critical insights into specific sexual and reproductive health needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals alongside barriers faced by healthcare providers in meeting those needs.
Cycle one used an ethnography approach involving 33 healthcare providers (HCPs) and 22 LGBTQIA+ individuals
Participants identified specific SRH challenges and barriers encountered in accessing and providing services
Participants shared views on the potential role of mHealth apps in addressing these issues
Societal challenges identified included stigma, discrimination, and lack of tailored healthcare resources
Methods
A Participatory Action Research approach using the Nominal Group Technique with 13 experts was used to collaboratively identify essential content for the mHealth app.
Cycle two engaged 13 experts through Participatory Action Research (PAR)
The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was the specific method used to foster a co-creation process
The goal was to collaboratively identify essential content for the app
This cycle fostered a co-creation process involving multiple expert stakeholders
Results
A functional mHealth app prototype named 'Queery wellness hub' was developed through collaboration between software developers and the principal investigator.
Cycle three followed an interventional pre-experimental approach
Software developers and the principal investigator worked together to develop the prototype
The app incorporated features tailored to enhance accessibility, confidentiality, and user engagement
The prototype addressed both user and provider perspectives
Methods
The Design Science Research framework was executed in three distinct cycles to guide the development of the mHealth app prototype.
Cycle one used an ethnography approach for needs identification
Cycle two used Participatory Action Research with the Nominal Group Technique for content co-creation
Cycle three used an interventional pre-experimental approach for prototype development
A mixed-method exploratory sequential approach was used across all cycles
Conclusions
The findings underscore the potential of mHealth apps to transform the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQIA+ individuals in South Africa.
The app was designed to address barriers including stigma, discrimination, and lack of tailored healthcare resources
The prototype was developed specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Continued collaboration with stakeholders was identified as essential for further refinement and successful implementation
The ultimate aim is contributing to better health outcomes for sexual and gender minorities
What This Means
This research describes the development of a mobile phone app called 'Queery wellness hub' designed to help LGBTQIA+ individuals in Gauteng Province, South Africa access sexual and reproductive health information and services. The researchers used a structured, three-phase approach: first interviewing 33 healthcare providers and 22 LGBTQIA+ individuals to understand their specific health needs and the barriers they face; then gathering 13 experts to co-create the app's content; and finally working with software developers to build a working prototype. The study found that LGBTQIA+ individuals face significant challenges including stigma, discrimination, and a lack of healthcare resources tailored to their needs.
The resulting app prototype was built with features specifically intended to improve accessibility, protect user confidentiality, and keep users engaged — addressing concerns raised by both patients and healthcare providers during the research process. The co-creation approach meant that the final product reflected the real-world needs and perspectives of the people who would use or work with it, rather than being designed without their input.
This research suggests that mobile health apps could play an important role in improving healthcare access for LGBTQIA+ communities in South Africa, where in-person care can be fraught with discrimination. The authors note that further collaboration with stakeholders will be needed to refine and implement the app, with the broader goal of improving health outcomes for sexual and gender minorities in the region.
Seretlo R, Mokgatle M, Smuts H, Sepeng N. (2025). Development of an mHealth App Prototype for LGBTQIA+ Individuals' Sexual and Reproductive Health in Gauteng Province, South Africa: Design Science Research Study.. JMIR formative research. https://doi.org/10.2196/79593