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Educating and creating social awareness for sensitive topics using mobile
applications

Conference Paper · December 2013

DOI: 10.1109/MITE.2013.6756362

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 Educating and Creating Social Awareness for Sensitive Topics Using
Mobile Applications
Muaaz Salagar, Pranav Kulkarni, Saurabh Gondane
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Walchand College of Engineering
Sangli, India
salagarmi@gmail.com
Abstract–Considering the Massive increase in the usage
of Mobile phones and handheld devices such as Tablets,
iPads, there is an exponential growth in usage of Mobile
apps. Mobile applications are widely used for
entertainment, education, for social networks and for
increasing productivity. We propose use of mobile
applications to teach and to create social awareness for
sensitive topics. In developing countries, topics like
HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer,
autism etc. are not taken seriously due to social
awkwardness, cultural taboos, education system, social
barriers and gender inequality. This paper we proposes a
solution to this problem. As these applications can be used
personally, there will not be any hesitation compared to
discussion with a real person. Interactive application that is
created will be explanatory enough for users to get
appropriate and correct knowledge with its validation
hence, reducing misconceptions. Development of such
applications will lead to better awareness and better health
for individuals. As a proof of concept, Android application
is developed for awareness of HIV/AIDS. After use of
mobile app it brings 53.2 percent increase in average marks
of knowledge test about HIV/AIDS.
Keywords–social awareness, mobile applications,
android, education
I. INTRODUCTION
In developing countries when it comes to educate
people regarding HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted
diseases first problem is some of beliefs which prevent
them to come to scientific reasons. Instead they prefer
help of some one from family or friend or some
unprofessional person who does fake treatment in the
name of God to earn money. Sometimes there is gender
gap is the reason for most of the teenagers who don’t feel
free to discuss such topics with parents. The only source
of information is either peers or the internet, etc. The
internet as a source of information is not always
veritable; the one that is available on different blogs or
social networking sites. Such data is just opinion if the
author. So there must be a platform from which users
will get correct knowledge and with scientific remedies.
Some of the countries have implemented and Most of
the countries are trying to include such sensitive topic in
the academics. Considering the culture, history and
diversity it is not possible for every teacher to explain or
talk on topics like condom and contraceptives. It is
difficult for some of female teachers and they feel
awkward and try to avoid such topics which defeats the
purpose.
Mobile applications can be used personally and with
confidentiality so even shy person can use it without any
978-1-4799-1626-9/13/$31.00 2013
c IEEE
hesitation. Mobile application which is developed as fool
proof system is, in such a way that it is very interactive
with precise information and backed with scientific
reasoning. It's a single platform for all the questions
regarding such sensitive topics will be created and
expert’s opinion, thus helping users with different
queries.
If users already know about such sensitive topic then
there must be a system so that it can be validated and
measured onto some scale for evaluation. In the
implementation we have created a multiple choice
question test which will decide that how exactly a topic
is understood by the user. Later this data can be used for
next modules for teaching and as survey data for
statistical analysis of social awareness. Also, these test
can show us overall statistics about awareness among the
people regarding these sensitive topics. This data will be
extremely important to NGOs, Government institutes,
health research centers, NPOs, parents so that can plan
with better strategies, campaigns, health services for
preventing such diseases. How to prevent HIV/AIDS is a
very crucial aspect. Also, for diseases like breast cancer,
cervical cancer early detection is very important as it
plays major role in mortality of the subject.
Considering the situation in India where application
is implemented, metro cities residents are educated
enough they will not hesitate to talk about such issues.
But rural population is not enough educated so it is very
difficult to make them believe about reasons behind it
and provide solutions to them. Education about
HIV/AIDS is included in the academics and same
difficulties for teacher as aforementioned. Mobile
applications play an important role in such situations
where students have doubts about such issues, which
remains unresolved due to cultural barriers or generation
gaps.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer. It is
not only in low income countries but also in medium
income countries. In such countries the main problem is
late detection of cancer. Early detection is important for
breast cancer control.
According to WHO Breast cancer is the most
common cancer in women worldwide, comprising 16%
of all female cancers. It is estimated that 519 000 women
died in 2004 due to breast cancer, and although breast
cancer is thought to be a disease of the developed world,
a majority (69%) of all breast cancer deaths occurs in
developing countries (WHO Global Burden of Disease,
335
 2004) [1]. So there is need for good social awareness
campaign and training.

II. RELATED WORKSS

There is wide variety of applicatioons in health and

fitness category. Applications rangingg from interactive
games which help for increasing memoory performance to
simple health parameter loggers which w save data
regarding Blood pressure, weight, sugarr level etc.

Some of the apps which help useers to know more

about diseases. These applications are designed
d for health
professionals’. They provide definitionn to health related
terminologies. Even some of the appllication which are
designed for HIV/AIDS related issuues they are just
having information and there is no optiion to check users
understanding regarding that topic.
III. IMPLEMENTATION OF APPPLICATION
For proposed solution we chose toppic HIV/AIDs and
android operating system for moobile application
development. While developing this application we came
across situation where internet facility may not be
available all the time. So applicationn should be self-
contained in such a way that it cann provide all the
necessary information will be availaable even in the
absence of internet connection. So wee have to be also
efficient about the audio-video resourcees used.
Android is a Linux-based operatiing system which
runs primarily on touch-screen mobilee devices such as
smart-phones and tablet computers and supports for
multiple device configurations such as
a device memory
screen sizes etc. Market share of Android
A Operating
system in 2012 Third quarter of was 766% with more than
500 million devices activated in totaal and 1.3 million
activations daily [2].
Fig. 1. Overview of modules in the appplication
The teaching module is aggain divided into different
modules that will help to undeerstand more. Modules are
what symptoms are and how itt spreads and how it can be
prevented (refer Fig. 2, 3 annd 4). These modules are
designed for information withh the intention to keep it
useful even if the internet is not available. The textual
information with Text to speeech facility is provided so
that text will be read by mobbile itself no need to have
audio files (refer Fig. 5 and 6)). Advantage of using text
to speech is that application memory required will be
less. So there will not be conceerns for cellular data usage
charges while downloading such application from
application stores.
Even if user wants to knoow more about particular
topic he can connect to internett that will take user to web
portal with more detailed infformation and online help
from experts. On the portal annimated videos can explain
in detail.

In addition to this, initiativess like, one by

Government of India to make World’s cheapest Android
based tablet Aakash, costing at USD 35 3 [3],This is cost
cutting was possible due to Initiiative of Indian
Government for providing tablets for sttudents which will
help them for educational needs at affoordable price. That
makes android operating system a platform for
developing countries to create applications for
educational as well as social awareness..

For making application more interaactive and for ease

of use it is divided into simple menuu with options of
Teaching, Status and Being Sociall (refer Fig. 1). Fig. 2. Application Fig. 3. Teach me
m Fig 4. Modules inside
Teaching is module in which audio vissual aids are given main menu Menu “what is it” option
to understand the facts about HIV//AIDS. Status is
module for storage of data and Beingg Social is option
where user can donate money or can joinj nearby social
activist movement.

336 2013 IEEE International Conference in MOOC, Innovation and Technology in Education (MITE)
 apps that are installed alreadyy on the operating system.
User will be able to view all nearby
n hospitals which are
nearby to his /her current locattion. Otherwise user had to
switch to Google maps where search had to be made for
hospitals but implementation gives ease of use for service
at only one click (refer Fig. 9 and
a 10).

Fig. 5. Hearing facility with Text Fig. 6 Use of in built media

to speech
player for more
m audio
interactionn.

A. Validation of understanding

Before jumping to validation a module of frequently

asked questions is also added so thatt if there are any Fig. 9. Geo-location Service In Fig. 10. Maps showing nearby
misconceptions those will be explained. Android Hospitals for check-ups

Now to validate understanding of o user we have

designed a test comprising of multiple choice questions.
A test of 15 marks is designed. To im mplement this test
JavaScript is technology used with broowser of operating
system itself. After user completes tesst and submits for
answers then he will get report of tesst with score with
correct explanation for questions wheere user failed to
answer correctly. This will be useeful for users to
understand their misunderstandings, Cuultural taboos etc.
C. Health Status
The health parameter statiistics play very important
when it comes to diagnosis off diseases. The major issue
is when doctor is changed soo patients have to provide
history again. If users startted to note down these
parameters in application itselff then it will be useful for
user as well as patient to noticee warnings if there may be
example Blood pressure rise or o Sugar level in last week
etc. In implementation SQLitte database is used. Data
regarding blood pressure andd Sugar level, weight is
stored with date. Doctor meetings with descriptions of
what was issue and what rem medy doctor prescribed are
stored. As well as frequentlly used medicines. User
profile will be created and data will be stored with
password as security (refer Fig. 11 and 12).

Fig. 7. FAQs about AIDS Fig. 8. Quiz

Q about AIDS

B. Find Help and facilities nearby

The mobile application for suchh sensitive topics

should also be designed so that it can guide
g users if they
feel that they should consult with experts
e so, in the
implementation we have used detaails of offers by Fig. 11. Health data Fig. 12. History of checkups
Government example identity of personn undergoing such Management system
tests is kept confidential. To makee users aware of
facilities available nearby we can useu Google maps.
Android operating system provides verry effective use of

2013 IEEE International Conference in MOOC, Innovation and Technology in Education (MITE) 337

D. Graph Generation
Data stored will not be that effectiive so in order to
make it more intuitive and explanatoory graphs can be
generated from app itself. So visual representation
r will
help to understand more (please refer Fiig 13 and 14).
Fig. 13. Blood Pressure Fig.14. Grapph for User B. P.
Management System details
E. Notifications
In order to remind user for periodicc checkups as well
as some facts which are important too be reminded in
timely manner were notified with notifications. In
android it can be implemented using alarming service.
After particular period of time an event can be invoked.
F. Being Social
To help NGOs and other social activist
a application
provides option for the Donation as weell as helps as self
service. Payment Gateway, when fullly setup, can be
availed by users of the application can then donate
money. Same implementation can be done with facility
of In – App billing facility. This facilityy is provided these
days by major Application stores. Inn this facility the
transactions will be secured with SSL protocols.
p User can
purchase media files, if it is about a gaame then user can
purchase game levels, virtual gifts, etc.
After the use of the application user
u can share the
news about the application on various social networking
sites and can help for social awareness to
t grow more.
IV. EXPERIMENT AND RESULT
E V. CONCLUSION AN
Process followed for the implementaation is mentioned
in the Fig. 16. Before the developmennt of application it
was necessary to know what exactly users know about
HIV/AIDS so series of questions desiggned and a written
test was taken. After getting the resultss from that test we
identified common misconception annd unknown facts
and basic information which were unknown u to user.
Once this data collected applicatiion designed to
overcome common misconceptions andd with precise and
338 2013 IEEE International Conference in MOOC, Innovation and Technology in Education (MITE)
important information. After usse of application again test
is conducted so now results area again noted down and
that gives efficiency of the sysstem. Improvement is also
noted.
Testing for this applicatioon was done for teenage
group. 122 Students of age group 15-16 of tenth Standard
were chosen and to have diversity in the sample we have
chose 4 different schools fromm two different cities. And
procedure is followed in Fig. 15.
Fig.15. Methodology followed for appllication implementation
Questions asked in the test were What do u mean by
HIV/AIDS, What are posssible symptoms , Does
HIV/AIDS spread due Hanndshakes , and common
misconception that, Does it spread due to mosquito
bites?, Etc. Such 12 questionns were asked and some
questions were descriptive, example
e list the possible
ways of transmission of HIV/A AIDS. Total test was of 20
marks and response of the teest is given below as per
questions (refer Fig. 16). Avverage score of students
before test was 12.2 and after use
u of application only for
one time, score increased to 18.7.
1 So increase of marks
was 53.2%.
Fig.16. Results containing average marrks before and after the use of
Applications
ND FUTURE WORK
To tackle the issue of sociaal awareness of HIV/AIDS
with proposed implementation brings increase of 53.2 %
of average marks than when application was not used.
Increase in marks of students in the test shows
effectiveness of proposed soluution to solve problem of
Social awareness in developinng countries .This is case
study related to HIV/AIDS awaareness but with this novel
approach to teach and increasee social awareness can help
to reduce cultural taboos, common misconception,
 Awkwardness and hence leading to better health of
individuals and society.
This will create a new platform for usage of mobile
computing and application development for social
benefits.
Same approach can be extended to increase
awareness about sensitive topics like breast cancer,
cervical cancer, And Sexually transmitted diseases etc.
There is lot of scope for making apps more interactive
and innovative. Hope these applications will contribute
to health and well being of people.
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2013 IEEE International Conference in MOOC, Innovation and Technology in Education (MITE)
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