scholarly journals Utilizing perspectives from HIV-infected women, male partners and healthcare providers to design family planning SMS in Kenya: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karren Lewis ◽  
Elizabeth K. Harrington ◽  
Daniel Matemo ◽  
Alison L. Drake ◽  
Keshet Ronen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Male Partners ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Sensitive Topics ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Message Service ◽  
Education Support

Abstract Background Short message service (SMS) presents an opportunity to expand the reach of care and improve reproductive health outcomes. SMS could increase family planning (FP) use through education, support and demand generation. The purpose of this analysis is to determine the perspectives of potential FP users to inform design of SMS. Methods We conducted focus group discussions (FGD) with HIV-infected women and in-depth interviews (IDI) with male partners and health care workers (HCW) at urban and rural clinics in Kenya to design SMS content for a randomized controlled trial. Results Women and men indicated SMS could be used as a tool to discuss FP with their partners, and help decrease misconceptions about FP. Women stated SMS could make them more comfortable discussing sensitive topics with HCWs compared to in-person discussions. However, some women expressed concerns about FP SMS particularly if they used FP covertly or feared partner disapproval of FP use. These findings were common among women who had not disclosed their status. Providers viewed SMS as an important tool for tracking patients and clinical triage in conjunction with routine clinical visits. Conclusion Our findings suggest that SMS has the potential to facilitate FP education, counselling, and interaction with HCWs around FP.

scholarly journals Initial loss to follow up among tuberculosis patients: the role of Ward-Based Outreach Teams and short message service (SMS) technology (research proposal)

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith R. M. Mwansa-Kambafwile ◽  
Charles Chasela ◽  
Nazir Ismail ◽  
Colin Menezes
Keyword(s):  
Short Message Service ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Loss To Follow Up ◽  
Message Service ◽  
Sms Intervention ◽  
Competing Priorities

Abstract Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is a problem in South Africa. Initial loss to follow up (LTFU) among TB patients is high varying between 14.9 and 18%. Some of the reasons for this are: lack of proper communication between patient and staff on next steps after testing, not aware that results are ready; and other competing priorities. Receiving reminder messages that result is ready is an intervention that can be explored to reduce initial LTFU. This can be through either receiving a note from the Ward-Based Outreach Teams (WBOTs) or via short message service (SMS) advising the patient to collect test result at the facility. This proposal aims to assess the effectiveness of WBOTs or SMS technology in reducing TB initial LTFU. Methods This will be a mixed methods approach. In depth interviews with WBOT Managers and TB Program Managers will be conducted. Focus group discussions with WBOT members will also be conducted. Two interventions (enhanced WBOTs/SMS technology) will be tested using a 3 arm randomized controlled trial (standard of care, SMS technology or enhanced WBOTs). The WBOTs will deliver paper note reminders while SMS intervention will entail sending reminder SMS messages to patients as soon as TB results are ready.

Short message service reduces dropout in childhood obesity treatment: A randomized controlled trial.

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 797-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith de Niet ◽  
Reinier Timman ◽  
Stephanie Bauer ◽  
Erica van den Akker ◽  
Cora de Klerk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Short Message Service ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Obesity Treatment ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Message Service

Influence of short message service reminders on utilisation of focused antenatal care among women in rural Kenya: a randomised controlled trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Eliphas Gitonga ◽  
Jackim Nyamari ◽  
Peterson Warutere ◽  
Anthony Wanyoro
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Short Message Service ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Focused Antenatal Care ◽  
Message Service ◽  
Rural Kenya ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Antenatal Visits

Background/aims The short message service is a part of mobile health, which is defined as medical and public health practices that are supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and other wireless devices. Mobile health has documented positive outcomes on other health services, including focused antenatal care. The focused antenatal care model emphasises quality of care rather than quantity of antenatal visits, and the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of four targeted antenatal visits. This study examines the influence of short message service reminders on utilisation of focused antenatal care in rural Kenya. Methods This was a randomised controlled trial with 118 respondents in each of two study arms, intervention and control, conducted in Tharaka Nithi, Kenya. The study group were pregnant women attending their first antenatal care visit in Tharaka sub-county health facilities. The intervention was three short message service reminders a week before the scheduled visit. Structured questionnaires were used to collect baseline and exit interviews. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to check associations between uptake of antenatal care and participant characteristics at 5% significance level. Results Three quarters (75%) of the respondents in the intervention group completed the four targeted antenatal visits, whereas only 10% of respondents attended the required four visits in the control group. None of the sociodemographic variables were found to have any association or influence on focused antenatal care attendance. Short message reminders increased the chances of attending the recommended visits by 27 times (P<0.001). Conclusions Short message service reminders have a positive influence on utilisation of focused antenatal care. This research paper recommends that policymakers and health managers use short message service reminders to increase the uptake of focused antenatal care.

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