Aya Contigo: evaluation of a digital intervention to support self-managed medication abortion in Venezuela.

Abstract

Background: Venezuela continues to face a humanitarian crisis, where healthcare is difficult to access and abortion is legally restricted. In response to a growing need for life-saving abortion and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, a digital application called Aya Contigo was co-developed with local partners to support self-managed medication abortion. We sought to evaluate this digital health tool among pregnant people seeking abortion in Venezuela.

Methods: This is a mixed-methods pilot evaluation of Aya Contigo, a digital tool for pregnant people seeking abortion in Venezuela. From April to June of 2021, people in the first trimester of pregnancy were recruited via passive sampling. Once enrolled, participants accessed information and resources on the application and were supported by study team members over an encrypted chat. Following medication abortion, participants completed an online survey and a semi-structured interview. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the survey responses. Interviews were coded thematically and analyzed qualitatively with NVivo.

Results: Forty participants seeking medication abortion in Venezuela were recruited to the study and given access to Aya Contigo. Seventeen completed the online survey (42.5%), with all participants identifying as women and a mean age of 28 (range 19-38; SD 5.55). Participants expressed confidence in Aya Contigo; 53% (9/17) felt "very supported" and the remaining 47% (8/17) felt "somewhat supported" by the app throughout the self-managed abortion process. The app was rated as highly usable, with an overall System Usability Scale score of 83.4/100. Thirteen respondents participated in a semi-structured phone interview, and qualitative analysis identified key themes relating to the experience of seeking abortion in Venezuela, the user experience with Aya Contigo, and the app's role in the existing ecosystem of abortion and contraceptive care in Venezuela.

Discussion: This mixed-methods pilot study demonstrates that the Aya Contigo mobile application may support pregnant people seeking medication abortion and post-abortion contraceptive services in Venezuela. Participants valued the provision of evidence-based information, virtual accompaniment services, and locally-available sexual and reproductive health resources via the digital tool. Further research and interventions are needed to ensure that all pregnant people in Venezuela can access safe abortion and contraceptive resources.