Tailoring youth-friendly health services in Nigeria: a mixed-methods analysis of a designathon approach

Figures & data

Figure 1. 4YBY designathon open call process

Note: The three-phased process included an open call for teams of young people to submit their ideas on how to design youth-friendly health services. The top 13 ideas submitted were shortlisted to participate in a 3-day sprint event after three ideas emerged as top solutions to design youth-friendly health services and will inform future implementation research trials by the research team.

Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of designathon applicants and participants: Nigeria 2020

	Designathon Applicants (N = 976)	Designathon Applicants from Top 40 Teams (N = 157)	Designathon Participants (N = 48)
	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)
Age (years)
Median (Interquartile range)	15 (14–18)	17 (15–22)	20 (17–22)
Sex
Female	473 (51.5)	60 (41.1)	18 (37.5)
Male	446 (48.5)	86 (58.9)	30 (62.5)
Missing	57	11	0
Highest Level of Education*
Primary	132 (14.5)	21 (14.6)	0 (0)
Secondary	633 (69.3)	70 (48.6)	20 (45.5)
Some Tertiary	44 (4.8)	19 (13.2)	13 (29.6)
Tertiary	104 (11.4)	34 (23.6)	11 (25)
Missing	63	13	4
Occupation
Employed, Self Employed or NYSC^†	58 (6.3)	17 (11.9)	4 (9.3)
Unemployed	23 (2.5)	6 (4.2)	1 (2.3)
Student	841 (91.2)	120 (83.9)	38 (88.4)
Missing	54	14	5

*In Nigeria, primary education is elementary schooling for six years, which is then followed by secondary schooling for six years. Tertiary education is post-secondary schooling in which students attend universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, or colleges of education.

†NYSC = National Youth Service Corps

Table 2. Proposed strategies to develop youth-friendly health services by the three finalist teams at the designathon: Nigeria 2020

Rank	Team Name	Team Members*	Team Location (State)	Team Size	Youth-Friendly Health Services Proposals	Total Score^†
1	iDoc	Tertiary Students	Oyo	3	Develop a mobile-friendly web app for youth to access sexual and reproductive health services. Use emerging technologies, such as internet-of-things, to deliver health information between youth and health providers and initiate linkage to care. Youth can order HIV self-test kits with attached sensors through the app, which will monitor when test kits are open and notify health providers.	158
2	SafeTent	Tertiary Students NYSC Members	Lagos	3	Launch mobile and stationary tents, consisting of basic medical services and fun activities, to recruit youth and deliver health services. Youth who visit these tents can purchase a bag containing various health products. The study team will follow-up, through phone calls or email, to see if youth who visited the tents utilized any of the health products.	142
3	Edoro	Secondary Students	Lagos	5	Establish multisectoral collaborations to promote and deliver health services. The study team will provide youth with health kits at schools or community health fairs. The study team will also offer peer support services to encourage the use of health kits and linkage to care.	139

NYSC = National Youth Service Corps

*In Nigeria, primary education is elementary schooling for six years, which is then followed by secondary schooling for six years. Tertiary education is post-secondary schooling in which students attend universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, or colleges of education.

†Range of possible total scores was 0 to 200 points. Total score was determined by five judges who each evaluated the designathon proposals on potential desirability, impact, feasibility and teamwork. Each criterion was on a 10-point scale.