{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T22:50:32Z","timestamp":1787957432674,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761868800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosdigitalhealth.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLOS Digit Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) self-care offers a pathway for low income countries to advance towards Universal Health Coverage by empowering individuals, families, and communities to prioritize their SRH needs independently of healthcare providers. Facilitating access to SRH products is crucial for embracing self-care and digital health technologies hold promise for enhancing accessibility. This study explored the role played by rocket health digital platforms in enhancing accessibility to SRH self-care products among youth in Uganda. Employing a cross-sectional design with a mixed-method approach, the study involved key informant interviews with youth who had purchased SRH self-care products from Rocket Health in 2022, as well as key staff at Rocket Health. Quantitative data were extracted from Rocket Health\u2019s Electronic Medical Records covering the period from January 2022 to December 2022.More males (57%) utilized digital platforms for SRH compared to females (43%). The highest utilization was via the E-commerce platform (49%) while the least was via the voice call platforms (4%). A notable portion of youth (30%) still relied on visiting the pharmacy. Contraception products were predominantly consumed through digital platforms (44%), whereas self-testing were less frequently utilized (14%). The study also identified key resources such as the digital infrastructure that maximize the potential of digital health platforms in enhancing SRH self-care. By gaining insights into the digital infrastructure, preferences, barriers, and financial considerations associated with accessing SRH self-care services through digital platforms, targeted interventions such as access to contraceptives, awareness programs, prevention and treatment of Sexual Transmitted Infections can be developed to promote positive SRH outcomes among youth.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pdig.0000770","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T17:28:46Z","timestamp":1761931726000},"page":"e0000770","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pdig.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["TELEHEALTH and digital health platforms in promoting access to sexual reproductive health self care among youth: A case of rocket health services in Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-9771-2040","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Vincent","family":"Ssenfuka","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"John Mark","family":"Bwanika","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Louis Henry","family":"Kamulegeya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth Ekirapa","family":"Kiracho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martha","family":"Akulume","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lynn","family":"Atuyambe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"pdig.0000770.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2021-008317","article-title":"The health workforce status in the WHO African Region: findings of a cross-sectional study","volume":"7","author":"A Ahmat","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"pdig.0000770.ref002","volume-title":"Health workforce requirements for universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals","author":"H Resources","year":"2016"},{"key":"pdig.0000770.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073246","DOI":"10.3389\/frph.2022.1073246","article-title":"Self-care can be an alternative to expand access to universal health care: What policy makers, governments and implementers can consider for South Africa","volume":"4","author":"A Nyatela","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Reprod Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pdig.0000770.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-021-01183-y","article-title":"Factors influencing access to and utilisation of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"LR Ninsiima","year":"2021","journal-title":"Reprod Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pdig.0000770.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-018-0642-0","article-title":"Study protocol: Using a mobile phone-based application to increase awareness and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services among the youth in Uganda. 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