Leveraging digital innovation to address public health challenges: Insights from the Young Africa Live (YAL) platform

Title : Leveraging digital innovation to address public health challenges: Insights from the Young Africa Live (YAL) platform

Abstract:

The Young Africa Live (YAL) platform exemplifies the role of digital innovation in addressing critical public health challenges, particularly in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and mental health among young people in South Africa. This hybrid platform integrates WhatsApp and Facebook channels to provide tailored, behaviorally informed interventions, reaching over 100,000 users in less than a year. YAL’s contribution analysis highlights its ability to incorporate social determinants of health into personalised intervention strategies. Using baseline assessments to evaluate mental health, locus of control, and social connectedness, the platform adapts its engagement to meet users’ unique needs. By leveraging digital tools for interactive learning and service linkage, YAL demonstrates significant outcomes, including a reduction in depression and anxiety, improved psychological resilience, and enhanced feelings of social connectedness. These improvements, in turn, correlate strongly with positive changes in SRH behaviors, such as increased condom use and STI testing. A mixed-method evaluation combining pre-post surveys, programmatic monitoring, and qualitative feedback underpins these findings. Analysis reveals that users with the greatest psychological gains exhibited stronger long-term adherence to desired health behaviors, underscoring persistence as a vital enabler of public health outcomes. YAL’s scalable design also bridges critical gaps in access, particularly for marginalised and low-income youth, offering a replicable model for broader public health challenges. This presentation will delve into YAL’s innovative design, its impact on youth health outcomes, and its implications for scaling digital public health interventions globally. By combining behavioral science with digital health, YAL paves the way for sustainable and impactful solutions to pressing public health challenges.

Biography:

Catherine is the Director of Implementation at Reach Digital Health, where she works closely with the CEO and the Director of Partnerships & Growth to build strong stakeholder partnerships to ensure strategic alignment in project implementations. She leads diverse teams, including Projects, Engineering, Strategic Experience Design, MERL, and Delivery Operations, to ensure that implementations are financially sustainable, suitable for replication, and aligned with future expansions. With advanced degrees in Telecommunication and Electrical Engineering, and certifications as a PMP, CSM, and Change Management Practitioner, Catherine brings both technological problem-solving skills and strategic insights to her role. Her previous experience has honed her ability to manage large-scale projects and drive continuous improvement. Catherine is dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering a culture of learning and innovation at Reach Digital Health.