scholarly journals Exploring the Use of Mobile Health to Improve Community-Based Health and Nutrition Service Utilization in the Hills of Nepal: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Acharya ◽  
Kenda Cunningham ◽  
Shraddha Manandhar ◽  
Niva Shrestha ◽  
Mario Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Nutrition Service ◽  
Health Facility Staff ◽  
Facility Staff

BACKGROUND With mobile phone coverage and ownership expanding globally, mobile health (mHealth) interventions are increasingly being used to improve coverage and quality of health and nutrition services. However, evidence on mHealth intervention feasibility and factors to consider during program design is limited in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the potential of using text messages to improve health and nutrition services by exploring mobile phone ownership and sharing; mobile phone use and skills; and interest, preferences, and limitations regarding mHealth interventions. METHODS We conducted 35 in-depth interviews with 1000-day women (the period from conception to a child’s second birthday), health facility staff, and female community health volunteers (FCHVs), as well as eight focus group discussions with health facility staff, FCHVs, and 1000-day household decision-makers (ie, husbands, mothers-in-law, and fathers-in-law). We also conducted a mobile phone skills test. We employed thematic analysis using framework matrices and analytical memos. RESULTS The study included 70 study participants, of whom 68 (97%) had a mobile phone, and phone sharing was uncommon. Use of text messages was most commonly reported by 1000-day women and health facility staff than household decision-makers and FCHVs. More than 8 in 10 participants (54/64, 84%) could dial numbers, and the majority (28/34, 82%) of 1000-day women, health facility staff, and male decision-makers could also read and write text messages. We found that 1000-day women preferred educational and reminder messages, whereas health facility staff and FCHVs desired educational and motivational messages. Participants suggested different types of texts for 1000-day women, families, FCHVs, and health facility staff, and reported less value for texts received from unknown phone numbers. CONCLUSIONS A text message–based mHealth intervention is acceptable in the hills of Nepal and has the potential to improve community health and nutrition service utilization, particularly by sending meeting reminders and by providing information. Our findings contribute to text message–based mHealth intervention design in under-resourced settings.

scholarly journals Exploring the Use of Mobile Health to Improve Community-Based Health and Nutrition Service Utilization in the Hills of Nepal: Qualitative Study

10.2196/17659 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. e17659
Author(s):  
Ajay Acharya ◽  
Kenda Cunningham ◽  
Shraddha Manandhar ◽  
Niva Shrestha ◽  
Mario Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Nutrition Service ◽  
Health Facility Staff ◽  
Facility Staff

Background With mobile phone coverage and ownership expanding globally, mobile health (mHealth) interventions are increasingly being used to improve coverage and quality of health and nutrition services. However, evidence on mHealth intervention feasibility and factors to consider during program design is limited in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal. Objective This study aimed to examine the potential of using text messages to improve health and nutrition services by exploring mobile phone ownership and sharing; mobile phone use and skills; and interest, preferences, and limitations regarding mHealth interventions. Methods We conducted 35 in-depth interviews with 1000-day women (the period from conception to a child’s second birthday), health facility staff, and female community health volunteers (FCHVs), as well as eight focus group discussions with health facility staff, FCHVs, and 1000-day household decision-makers (ie, husbands, mothers-in-law, and fathers-in-law). We also conducted a mobile phone skills test. We employed thematic analysis using framework matrices and analytical memos. Results The study included 70 study participants, of whom 68 (97%) had a mobile phone, and phone sharing was uncommon. Use of text messages was most commonly reported by 1000-day women and health facility staff than household decision-makers and FCHVs. More than 8 in 10 participants (54/64, 84%) could dial numbers, and the majority (28/34, 82%) of 1000-day women, health facility staff, and male decision-makers could also read and write text messages. We found that 1000-day women preferred educational and reminder messages, whereas health facility staff and FCHVs desired educational and motivational messages. Participants suggested different types of texts for 1000-day women, families, FCHVs, and health facility staff, and reported less value for texts received from unknown phone numbers. Conclusions A text message–based mHealth intervention is acceptable in the hills of Nepal and has the potential to improve community health and nutrition service utilization, particularly by sending meeting reminders and by providing information. Our findings contribute to text message–based mHealth intervention design in under-resourced settings.

Children's Text Messaging and Traditional Literacy

2009 ◽  
pp. 492-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly Plester ◽  
Clare Wood ◽  
Samantha Bowyer
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
School Achievement ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Standard English ◽  
Verbal Reasoning ◽  
Mobile Phone Use ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

The authors present three investigations into pre-teen children’s text message language and measures of their standard literacy abilities. The children translated sentences, from standard English into text, and from text into standard English , and wrote text messages appropriate to a set of scenarios. They categorised text abbreviations used and calculated the proportion of abbreviations to total words. The children completed a questionnaire about their mobile phone use. Text messaging facility was positively associated with verbal reasoning, vocabulary, school achievement in English, and reading ability across the three studies. Texting provides opportunity for children to communicate in writing without the constraints of standard English, and we propose that the playful variants on words that they use in texting, and their ability to encode spoken slang graphically, show not a lack of knowledge of English, but a light hearted use of phonological and alphabetic decoding principles that also underpin standard English.

scholarly journals RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF THE ENERGY FLUX DENSITY OF THE MOBILE PHONE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD / MOBILIŲJŲ TELEFONŲ ELEKTROMAGNETINIO LAUKO ENERGIJOS SRAUTO TANKIO TYRIMAI IR ĮVERTINIMAS

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-467
Author(s):  
Pranas Baltrėnas ◽  
Raimondas Buckus
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Field ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Flux Density ◽  
Energy Flux ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Effective Protection ◽  
Allowable Limit ◽  
Energy Flux Density

The article analyses variations in the energy flux density of the electromagnetic field of 10 mobile phones depending on distance. The studies have been conducted using three modes: sending a text message, receiving a text message and connecting a mobile phone to the Internet. When text messages are received or sent from a mobile phone, the values of the energy flux density of the mobile phone electromagnetic field exceed the safe allowable limit and make 10 μW / cm². A distance of 10, 20 and 30 cm from a mobile phone is effective protection against the energy flux density of the electromagnetic field when writing texts, receiving messages or connecting to the mobile Internet. Santrauka Nagrinėjami 10 mobiliųjų telefonų elektromagnetinių laukų energijos srauto tankio kitimai priklausomai nuo atstumo. Tyrimai atliekami, kai iš mobiliojo telefono siunčiamas SMS, kai į mobilųjį telefoną yra siunčiamas SMS iš kito mobiliojo telefono, kai mobilusis telefonas jungiamas prie mobiliojo interneto. Mobiliųjų telefonų elektromagnetinio lauko energijos srauto tankio vertės, kai iš mobiliojo telefono siunčiamas ar gaunamas SMS, viršija saugią leistiną 10 µW/cm² normą. 10, 20, 30 cm atstumas nuo mobiliojo telefono – tinkama apsauga nuo elektromagnetinio lauko energijos srauto tankio viršijimo rašant ar gaunant SMS žinutes, jungiantis prie mobiliojo interneto. Mobiliųjų telefonų elektromagnetinių laukų energijos srauto tankio priklausomybė nuo atstumo pateikiama grafikais.

scholarly journals A Mobile Health Intervention for Adolescents Exposed to Secondhand Smoke: Pilot Feasibility and Efficacy Study

10.2196/18583 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. e18583
Author(s):  
Natalie Nardone ◽  
Jeremy Giberson ◽  
Judith J Prochaska ◽  
Shonul Jain ◽  
Neal L Benowitz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Secondhand Smoke ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Urinary Cotinine ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Shs Exposure

Background Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in children and adolescents has adverse health effects. For adolescents of lower socioeconomic status (SES), exposure is widespread, evidenced in the measurement of urinary cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine. Direct intervention with exposed children has been proposed as a novel method, yet there is minimal evidence of its efficacy. Combining this approach with a mobile health (mHealth) intervention may be more time and cost-effective and feasible for adolescent populations. Objective In this pilot study, we assessed the feasibility and preliminary evidence of efficacy of a 30-day text message–based mHealth intervention targeted at reducing SHS exposure in adolescent populations of low SES. Methods For the study, 14 nonsmoking and nonvaping participants between the ages of 12-21 years exposed to SHS were enrolled. The intervention consisted of a daily text message sent to the participants over the course of a month. Text message types included facts and information about SHS, behavioral methods for SHS avoidance, or true-or-false questions. Participants were asked to respond to each message within 24 hours as confirmation of receipt. Feasibility outcomes included completion of the 30-day intervention, receiving and responding to text messages, and feedback on the messages. Efficacy outcomes included a reduction in urinary cotinine, accuracy of true-or-false responses, and participants’ perceptions of effectiveness. Results Of the 14 participants that were enrolled, 13 completed the intervention. Though not required, all participants had their own cell phones with unlimited text messaging plans. Of the total number of text messages sent to the 13 completers, 91% (372/407) of them received on-time responses. Participant feedback was generally positive, with most requesting more informational and true-or-false questions. In terms of efficacy, 54% (6/11) of participants reduced their cotinine levels (however, change for the group overall was not statistically significant (P=.33) and 45% (5/11) of participants increased their cotinine levels. Of the total number of true-or-false questions sent across all completers, 77% (56/73) were answered correctly. Participants’ ratings of message effectiveness averaged 85 on a scale of 100. Conclusions In this pilot study, the intervention was feasible as the majority of participants had access to a cell phone, completed the study, and engaged by responding to the messages. The efficacy of the study requires further replication, as only half of the participants reduced their cotinine levels. However, participants answered the majority of true-or-false questions accurately and reported that the messages were helpful.

scholarly journals Analysis of Obstetric Near Miss Cases of Different Health Facilities of Electoral Constituency Two of Arghakhanchi District

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-41
Author(s):  
S R Manandhar ◽  
D S Manandhar ◽  
D Adhikari ◽  
J R Shrestha ◽  
C Rai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Placental Tissue ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Near Miss ◽  
Common Complication ◽  
Obstructed Labor ◽  
Health Facility Staff ◽  
Facility Staff

Aims: This study was done to identify and analyze obstetric near miss cases at health facilities of electoral constituency number 2 (EC 2) of Arghakhanchi district, Nepal. Methods: After receiving one day training on identifying obstetric near miss cases, health facility staff of EC 2 of Arghakhanchi district filled up WHO derived obstetric near miss forms for eight months duration. Causes of obstetric near miss cases were identified and analyzed in SPSS 16. Results: There were 31 obstetric near miss cases reported from different health facilities of EC 2 of Arghakhanchi. The commonest cause of obstetric near miss was Post-partum Hemorrhage (85%, n=26) followed by obstructed labor and ante partum hemorrhage (6%, n= 2) each. The leading cause of PPH was retained placenta/placental tissue in 55% cases (14) followed by atonic uterus (27%, n= 7). Two fifth of the mothers (39%, n=12) developed complication during labor. The most common complication developed after labor was hemorrhage. Conclusions: This study highlighted PPH as the most common serious obstetric problem in the health facilities and indicates the need for provision of blood transfusion at the health facility at least at Arghakhanchi. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njog.v9i2.11760

scholarly journals A Mobile Health Intervention for Adolescents Exposed to Secondhand Smoke: Pilot Feasibility and Efficacy Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Nardone ◽  
Jeremy Giberson ◽  
Judith J Prochaska ◽  
Shonul Jain ◽  
Neal L Benowitz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Secondhand Smoke ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Urinary Cotinine ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Shs Exposure

BACKGROUND Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in children and adolescents has adverse health effects. For adolescents of lower socioeconomic status (SES), exposure is widespread, evidenced in the measurement of urinary cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine. Direct intervention with exposed children has been proposed as a novel method, yet there is minimal evidence of its efficacy. Combining this approach with a mobile health (mHealth) intervention may be more time and cost-effective and feasible for adolescent populations. OBJECTIVE In this pilot study, we assessed the feasibility and preliminary evidence of efficacy of a 30-day text message–based mHealth intervention targeted at reducing SHS exposure in adolescent populations of low SES. METHODS For the study, 14 nonsmoking and nonvaping participants between the ages of 12-21 years exposed to SHS were enrolled. The intervention consisted of a daily text message sent to the participants over the course of a month. Text message types included facts and information about SHS, behavioral methods for SHS avoidance, or true-or-false questions. Participants were asked to respond to each message within 24 hours as confirmation of receipt. Feasibility outcomes included completion of the 30-day intervention, receiving and responding to text messages, and feedback on the messages. Efficacy outcomes included a reduction in urinary cotinine, accuracy of true-or-false responses, and participants’ perceptions of effectiveness. RESULTS Of the 14 participants that were enrolled, 13 completed the intervention. Though not required, all participants had their own cell phones with unlimited text messaging plans. Of the total number of text messages sent to the 13 completers, 91% (372/407) of them received on-time responses. Participant feedback was generally positive, with most requesting more informational and true-or-false questions. In terms of efficacy, 54% (6/11) of participants reduced their cotinine levels (however, change for the group overall was not statistically significant (<i>P</i>=.33) and 45% (5/11) of participants increased their cotinine levels. Of the total number of true-or-false questions sent across all completers, 77% (56/73) were answered correctly. Participants’ ratings of message effectiveness averaged 85 on a scale of 100. CONCLUSIONS In this pilot study, the intervention was feasible as the majority of participants had access to a cell phone, completed the study, and engaged by responding to the messages. The efficacy of the study requires further replication, as only half of the participants reduced their cotinine levels. However, participants answered the majority of true-or-false questions accurately and reported that the messages were helpful.

scholarly journals HIV Stigma Reduction for Health Facility Staff: Development of a Blended- Learning Intervention

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Nyblade ◽  
Krishnamachari Srinivasan ◽  
Amanda Mazur ◽  
Tony Raj ◽  
Divya S. Patil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staff Development ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Hiv Stigma ◽  
Stigma Reduction ◽  
Learning Intervention ◽  
Health Facility Staff ◽  
Facility Staff

scholarly journals Acceptability of community-based adherence clubs among health facility staff in South Africa: a qualitative study

2017 ◽  
Vol Volume 11 ◽  
pp. 1523-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ndumiso Tshuma ◽  
Ofentse Mosikare ◽  
Jessica A Yun ◽  
Olufunke A Alaba ◽  
Meera S Maheedhariah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Health Facility Staff ◽  
Facility Staff
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