AskDoki: a mobile AI chat bot to improve sexual and reproductive health for Kenyan adolescents
Official title: AskDoki: Evaluation of a mobile health intervention to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes among Kenyan adolescents living inurban informal settlements
Funded at Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation · NIH-11415580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile AI chat bot, AskDoki, helps Kenyan adolescents get accurate sexual and reproductive health information through WhatsApp, paired with peer leaders to expand reach.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Beltsville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $95,872 |
| NIH project number | 5R21TW012623-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents in Kenyan settings who have access to mobile phones and can engage with the AskDoki chat bot.
✕Less likely to help
Adolescents without access to mobile phones or who are not comfortable with digital chat may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a WhatsApp AI chat bot to deliver sex education to Kenyan adolescents outside traditional schools. It combines the AI tool with trained youth peer leaders to extend reach and reinforce learning. The study will measure predefined outcomes and implementation metrics to see if this approach can be translated to other settings if successful.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adolescents could access accurate, on-demand sexual health information in a private, convenient way.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pilots suggest AI chat bots can deliver health information to young people, but rigorous evaluation is needed for broader adoption.
Where this research is happening
-
Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation
Beltsville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luseno, Winfred K — Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation
- Study coordinator: Luseno, Winfred K
Related research
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AskDoki: a mobile chat bot to improve adolescent sexual health in Kenyan youth
A mobile AI chat bot, AskDoki, will provide on-demand sexual and reproductive health information to 15-year-olds in urban Kenyan communities, with support from trained youth peer leaders.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.