IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i21p7018-d1273769.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Utilizing User Preferences in Designing the AGILE (Accelerating Access to Gender-Based Violence Information and Services Leveraging on Technology Enhanced) Chatbot

Author

Listed:
  • Anne Ngũnjiri

    (LVCT Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya)

  • Peter Memiah

    (Graduate School, University of Maryland, 620 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA)

  • Robert Kimathi

    (LVCT Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya)

  • Fernando A. Wagner

    (School of Social Work, University of Maryland, 525 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA)

  • Annrita Ikahu

    (LVCT Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya)

  • Eunice Omanga

    (LVCT Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya)

  • Emmanuel Kweyu

    (Faculty of Information Technology, Strathmore University, Nairobi P.O. Box 59857-00200, Kenya)

  • Carol Ngunu

    (Department of Health, Nairobi City County, Nairobi P.O. Box 30075-00100, Kenya)

  • Lilian Otiso

    (LVCT Health Kenya, Nairobi P.O. Box 19835-00202, Kenya)

Abstract

Introduction: Technology advancements have enhanced artificial intelligence, leading to a user shift towards virtual assistants, but a human-centered approach is needed to assess for acceptability and effectiveness. The AGILE chatbot is designed in Kenya with features to redefine the response towards gender-based violence (GBV) among vulnerable populations, including adolescents, young women and men, and sexual and gender minorities, to offer accurate and reliable information among users. Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study through focus group discussions (FGDs) targeting 150 participants sampled from vulnerable categories; adolescent girls and boys, young women, young men, and sexual and gender minorities. The FGDs included multiple inquiries to assess knowledge and prior interaction with intelligent conversational assistants to inform the user-centric development of a decision-supportive chatbot and a pilot of the chatbot prototype. Each focus group comprised 9–10 members, and the discussions lasted about two hours to gain qualitative user insights and experiences. We used thematic analysis and drew on grounded theory to analyze the data. Results: The analysis resulted in 14 salient themes composed of sexual violence, physical violence, emotional violence, intimate partner violence, female genital mutilation, sexual reproductive health, mental health, help-seeking behaviors/where to seek support, who to talk to, and what information they would like, features of the chatbot, access of chatbot, abuse and HIV, family and community conflicts, and information for self-care. Conclusion: Adopting a human-centered approach in designing an effective chatbot with as many human features as possible is crucial in increasing utilization, addressing the gaps presented by marginalized/vulnerable populations, and reducing the current GBV epidemic by moving prevention and response services closer to people in need.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Ngũnjiri & Peter Memiah & Robert Kimathi & Fernando A. Wagner & Annrita Ikahu & Eunice Omanga & Emmanuel Kweyu & Carol Ngunu & Lilian Otiso, 2023. "Utilizing User Preferences in Designing the AGILE (Accelerating Access to Gender-Based Violence Information and Services Leveraging on Technology Enhanced) Chatbot," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(21), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:21:p:7018-:d:1273769
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/21/7018/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/21/7018/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Häggman-Laitila, Arja & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Karki, Suyen, 2018. "Transition to adult life of young people leaving foster care: A qualitative systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 134-143.
    2. Shelby, Renee & Harb, Jenna Imad & Henne, Kathryn E., 2021. "Whiteness in and through data protection: An intersectional approach to anti-violence apps and #MeToo bots," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 10(4), pages 1-25.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. John Fowler & Mark Zachry & David W. McDonald, 2023. "Policy Recommendations from an Empirical Study of an Online Foster Care Community," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(5), pages 2033-2054, October.
    2. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    3. Toivonen, Katri & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Puustelli, Anne & Häggman-Laitila, Arja, 2020. "Somatic and mental symptoms, medical treatments and service use in aftercare – Document analysis of Finnish care leavers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. Glynn, Natalie, 2021. "Understanding care leavers as youth in society: A theoretical framework for studying the transition out of care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Lindner, Abigail Rose & Hanlon, Ryan, 2024. "Outcomes of youth with foster care experiences based on permanency outcome – Adoption, aging out, long-term foster care, and reunification: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Mendes, Philip & Martin, Robyn & Jasmin Jau, Ms & Jacinta Chavulak, Ms, 2023. "An analysis of the intersecting factors and needs that informed the experiences of young people transitioning from out of home care in the Australian states of Victoria and Western Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    7. Prévost-Lemire, Madeleine & Paquette, Geneviève & Lanctôt, Nadine, 2021. "Trauma symptoms as factors associated with early motherhood among young women who had contact with child protective services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    8. Roche, Steven, 2019. "A scoping review of children's experiences of residential care settings in the global South," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Pedro Alemán Ramos & Paula Morales Almeida & Miriam Brito Sánchez, 2024. "The Transition to Adulthood from the Perspective of Former Foster Youth: A Socio-Educational Approach," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, August.
    10. Karki, Suyen & Ryynänen, Olli-Pekka & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Häggman-Laitila, Arja, 2023. "Bayesian analysis of the factors explaining the disruptive behaviour of care leavers: A retrospective document analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    11. Pepe, Alessandro & Biffi, Elisabetta & Carla Montà, Chiara & Arciprete, Caterina & Biggeri, Mario, 2024. "Agency, participation in decision making and wellbeing among care leavers in care system: A quantitative mediation study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    12. Jill R. McTavish & Christine McKee & Masako Tanaka & Harriet L. MacMillan, 2022. "Child Welfare Reform: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-24, October.
    13. Ángel De-Juanas & Francisco Javier García-Castilla & Diego Galán-Casado & Jorge Díaz-Esterri, 2020. "Time Management by Young People in Social Difficulties: Suggestions for Improving Their Life Trajectories," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Eslamian, Ayoub & Afrouz, Rojan & Moghanibashi-Mansourieh, Amir, 2024. "“Who is going to help us?”: A qualitative study on young care leaver’s experiences in Iran," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:21:p:7018-:d:1273769. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.