Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Effectiveness of short message services reminder on childhood immunization programme in Kadoma, Zimbabwe - a randomized controlled trial, 2013

Authors: Donewell Bangure, Daniel Chirundu, Notion Gombe, Tawanda Marufu, Gibson Mandozana, Mufuta Tshimanga, Lucia Takundwa

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Globally, non-attendance for immunization appointments remains a challenge to healthcare providers. A review of the 2011 immunization coverage for Kadoma City, Zimbabwe was 74% for Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Pneumococcal and Pentavalent antigens. The immunization coverage was less than 90%, which is the target for Kadoma City. Adoption of short message services (SMS) reminders has been shown to enhance attendance in some medical settings. The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of SMS reminders on immunization programme for Kadoma City.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Kadoma City clinics in Zimbabwe. Women who delivered and were residents of Kadoma City were recruited into the study. In the intervention group, SMS reminders were sent at 6, 10 and 14 weeks in addition to routine health education. In the non-intervention no SMS reminders were used, however routine health education was offered. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Epi Info 7™, where frequencies, means, risk ratios and risk differences were generated.

Results

A total of 304 participants were recruited, 152 for the intervention group and 152 for the non-intervention group. The immunization coverage at 6 weeks was 97% in the intervention group and 82% in the non-intervention group (p < 0.001). At 14 weeks immunization coverage was 95% for intervention and 75% for non-intervention group (p < 0.001). Those who did not delay receiving immunization at 14 weeks was 82% for the intervention and 8% for non-intervention group. Median delay for intervention was 0 days (Q1 = 0; Q3 = 0) and 10 days (Q1 = 6; Q3 = 17) for non-intervention group. The risk difference (RD) for those who received SMS reminders than those in the non intervention group was 16.3% (95% CI: 12.5-28.0) at 14 weeks.

Conclusion

Immunization coverage in the intervention group was significantly higher than in non-intervention group. Overall increase in immunization coverage can be attributed to use of SMS.

Trial registration

ISRCTN70918594. Registration Date: 28 August 2014.
Literature
1.
2.
3.
Massoudi M. Achieving healthy people 2010 immunization goals: proceedings of a national conference, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clin Ther. 2001;25(Suppl A):A18–32.
4.
5.
Downer SR, Meara JG, Da Costa AC. SMS text messaging improves outpatient attendance. Aust Health Rev. 2006;30:389–96.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Vilella A, Bayas JM, Diaz M,T. The role of mobile phones in improving vaccination rates in travelers. Prev Med. 2004;38:503–9.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Leong KC, Chen WS. The use of text messaging to improve attendance in a primary care: a randomized control trial. Fam Pract. 2006;23:699–705.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Geraghty M, Glynn F, Amin M, Kinsella J. Patient mobile ‘text’ reminder: a novel way to reduce non attendance at the ENT out-patient clinic. J Laryngol Otol. 2008;122:296–8.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Szilagyi PG, Schaffer S, Shone L, Barth R, Humiston SG, Sandler M. Reducing geographic, racial, and ethnic disparities in childhood immunization rates by using reminder/recall interventions in urban primary care practices. Pediatrics. 2002;110(5):e58.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Dini EF, Linkins RW, Sigafoos J. The impact of computer generated messages on childhood immunization coverage. Am J Prev Med. 2000;18(2):132–9.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Szilagyi PG, Bordley C, Vann JC. Effect of patient reminder/recall interventions on immunization rates: a review. JAMA. 2000;284(14):1820–7.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Da Costa TM, Salomao PL, Martha AS, Pisa IT, Sigulem D. The impact of short message service text messages sent as appointment reminders to patients’ cell phone at out-patient clinics in Sao Paulo. Brazil Int J Med Inform. 2010;79(1):65–70.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Szilagyi PG, Stanley S, Richard B, Shone LP, Humiston SG, Ambrose S, et al. Effect of telephone reminder/recall on adolescent immunization and preventive visits. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:157–63.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Dini EF, Linkins RW, Chaney M. Effectiveness of computer-generated telephone messages in increasing clinic visits. Arch Pediatric Adolesc Med. 1995;149:902–5.CrossRef
15.
Balogun MR, Sekoni AO, Okafor IP, Odukoya O, Ezeiru S, Ogunnowo BE, et al. Access to information technology and willingness to receive text message reminders for childhood immunization among mothers attending a tertiary facility in Lagos. Sajch August. 2012;6:3.
16.
Sims H, Sanghara H, Hayes D, Wandiembe S, Finch M, Jakobsen H. Text message reminders of appointments: a pilot intervention at four community mental health clinics in london: psychiatric services. A Psychiatric Assoc. 2012;63(2):161–8.
17.
Clark SJ, Butchart A, Kennedy A, Dombkowsky KJ. Parents experiences and preferences for immunization Reminder/Recall Technologies. Pediatrics. 2011;128(5):e1100–5.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Kellerman RD, Allred CT, Frisch LE. Enhancing influenza immunization: postcard and telephone reminders and the challenge of immunization site shift. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9(4):368–72.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Jones D, Joseph M A, Scharff J, Sunderland N. Biostatistics workbook. Field epidemiology and laboratory training programs. Sample size calculation. Centres DisControl Human Serv;185–188.
20.
Kadoma City consolidated T5 notification forms, January 2011 to December 2012.
21.
Stolberg HO, Norman G, Trop I. Fundamentals of clinical research. Am J Roentgenol. 2004;183:1539–44.CrossRef
22.
Barrow AK, Stokley S, Dong F, Beaty B, Dickinson LM, Suh CA, et al. Effectiveness and net cost of reminder/recall for adolescent immunizations. Pediatrics. 2012;129(6):129.
23.
AIto WA, Fury D, Condo A, Doran M, Aduddell M. Improving the immunization coverage of children less than 7 years old in a family practice residency. J Am Board Fam. 1994;7(6):472–7.
24.
Clayton AE, McNutt LA, Homestead HL, Hartman TW, Senecal S. Public health in managed care: a randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of postcard reminders. Am J Public Health. 1999;89(8):1235–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Hull S, Haqdrup N, Hart B, Griffiths C, Hennessy E. Improving immunisation coverage in rural India: clustered randomised controlled evaluation of immunisation campaigns with and without incentives. Br J Gen Pract. 2002;52(482):712–6.PubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Siriwardena AN, Rashid A, Johnson MR, Dewey ME. Boosting uptake of influenza immunisation: a randomised controlled trial of telephone appointing in general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2002;52(482):735–40.PubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Young SA, Halpin TJ, Johnson DA, Irvin JJ, Marks JS. Effectiveness of a mailed reminder on the immunization levels of infants at high risk of failure to complete immunizations. Am J Public Health. 1980;70:422–4.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
28.
Ahlers- Schmidt CR, Chesser A, Pashal A, Nguyen T, Wittler R. Text messaging immunization reminders: feasibility of implementation with low income parents. Prev Med. 2010;50:306–7.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Kharbanda EO, Stockwell MS, Fox HW, Rickert VI. Text4Health: a qualitative evaluation of parental readiness for text message immunization reminders. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(12):2176–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Jordan ET, Ray EM, Johnson P, Evans WD. Text4Baby: using text messaging to improve maternal and newborn health. Nurs Womens Health. 2011;25(3):206–12.CrossRef
31.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0 through 18 years. MMWR CDC Surveill Summ. 2010;58:1–4.
32.
Hammer LD, Curry ES, Harlor AD. Increasing immunization coverage. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):1295–304.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Jacobson Vann JC, Szilagyi P. Patient reminder and patient recall systems to improve immunizations rates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;3:CD003941.
34.
Franzini L, Rosenthal J, Spears W, Martin HS, Balderas L, Brown M. Cost effectiveness of childhood immunization reminder/recall systems in urban private practices. Pediatrics. 2000;160(1):177–83.
Metadata
Title
Effectiveness of short message services reminder on childhood immunization programme in Kadoma, Zimbabwe - a randomized controlled trial, 2013
Authors
Donewell Bangure
Daniel Chirundu
Notion Gombe
Tawanda Marufu
Gibson Mandozana
Mufuta Tshimanga
Lucia Takundwa
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1470-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Public Health 1/2015 Go to the issue

Debate

Healthy people with nature in mind

Research article

Tuberculosis active case finding: uptake and diagnostic yield among minibus drivers in urban South Africa

Research article

Knowledge and perceptions about diet and physical activity among Sri Lankan adults with diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study

Research article

Assessment of water, sanitation, and hygiene practices and associated factors in a Buruli ulcer endemic district in Benin (West Africa)

Research article

Cultural activity participation and associations with self-perceived health, life-satisfaction and mental health: the Young HUNT Study, Norway

Research Article

The influence of societal individualism on a century of tobacco use: modelling the prevalence of smoking