Game based learning tool seeking peer support for empowering adolescent girls in rural Assam

M Jain, P Yammiyavar - … of the 14th International Conference on …, 2015 - dl.acm.org
Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Interaction Design and …, 2015dl.acm.org
Adolescent girls especially in rural parts of India are shrouded in myth, superstition and
various restrictions since the time they attain menarche. These misconceptions and
ignorance lead to severe health consequences. In this paper we describe evaluation of a
digital game--'Help Pinky'designed to bridge information gaps and alleviate taboos related
to menstruation and puberty in adolescent girls in rural Assam.'Help Pinky'dwells on the
paradigm of game based learning and seeks support of peers for achieving success in the …
Adolescent girls especially in rural parts of India are shrouded in myth, superstition and various restrictions since the time they attain menarche. These misconceptions and ignorance lead to severe health consequences. In this paper we describe evaluation of a digital game -- 'Help Pinky' designed to bridge information gaps and alleviate taboos related to menstruation and puberty in adolescent girls in rural Assam. 'Help Pinky' dwells on the paradigm of game based learning and seeks support of peers for achieving success in the game. The evaluation study was conducted in two parts -- a pilot followed by the final test. The game was found effective in triggering discussions about stigmatized topics related to puberty. We discuss through our study and literature how learning through games seeking local community support could be a step towards dissolving the existent silence that prevails around these topics, thereby leading to free discussions and better health in the long run.
ACM Digital Library