The feasibility of using mobile-phone based SMS reminders and conditional cash transfers to improve timely immunization in rural Kenya
- PMID: 23246258
- PMCID: PMC4603391
- DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.11.093
The feasibility of using mobile-phone based SMS reminders and conditional cash transfers to improve timely immunization in rural Kenya
Abstract
Background: Demand-side strategies could contribute to achieving high and timely vaccine coverage in rural Africa, but require platforms to deliver either messages or conditional cash transfers (CCTs). We studied the feasibility of using short message services (SMS) reminders and mobile phone-based conditional cash transfers (CCTs) to reach parents in rural Western Kenya.
Methods: In a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), mothers with children aged 0-3 weeks old were approached to determine who had access to a mobile phone. SMS reminders were sent three days prior to and on the scheduled day of immunization for 1st (age 6 weeks) and 2nd doses (age 10 weeks) of DTP-HepB-Hib (Pentavalent) vaccine, using open-source Rapid SMS software. Approximately $2.00 USD was sent as cash using mPESA, a mobile money transfer platform (2/3 of mothers), or airtime (1/3 of mothers) via phone if the child was vaccinated within 4 weeks of the scheduled date. Follow-up surveys were done when children reached 14 weeks of age.
Results: We approached 77 mothers; 72 were enrolled into the study (26% owned a phone and 74% used someone else's). Of the 63 children with known vaccination status at 14 weeks of age, 57 (90%) received pentavalent1 and 54 (86%) received pentavalent2 within 4 weeks of their scheduled date. Of the 61 mothers with follow-up surveys administered at 14 weeks of age, 55 (90%) reported having received SMS reminders. Of the 54 women who reported having received SMS reminders and answered the CCT questions on the survey, 45 (83%) reported receiving their CCT. Most (89%) of mothers in the mPESA group obtained their cash within 3 days of being sent their credit via mobile phone. All mothers stated they preferred CCTs as cash via mobile phone rather than airtime. Of the 9 participants who did not vaccinate their children at the designated clinic 2(22%) cited refusals by husbands to participate in the study.
Conclusion: The data show that in rural Western Kenya mobile phone-based strategies are a potentially useful platform to deliver reminders and cash transfers. Follow-up studies are needed that provide evidence for the effectiveness of these strategies in improving vaccine coverage and timeliness.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Figures
![Figure 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4603391/bin/nihms725220f1.gif)
![Figure 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4603391/bin/nihms725220f2.gif)
![Figure 3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4603391/bin/nihms725220f3.gif)
![Figure 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/4603391/bin/nihms725220f4.gif)
Similar articles
-
Mobile phone-delivered reminders and incentives to improve childhood immunisation coverage and timeliness in Kenya (M-SIMU): a cluster randomised controlled trial.Lancet Glob Health. 2017 Apr;5(4):e428-e438. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30072-4. Lancet Glob Health. 2017. PMID: 28288747 Free PMC article.
-
The Mobile Solutions for Immunization (M-SIMU) Trial: A Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial That Assesses the Impact of Mobile Phone Delivered Reminders and Travel Subsidies to Improve Childhood Immunization Coverage Rates and Timeliness in Western Kenya.JMIR Res Protoc. 2016 May 17;5(2):e72. doi: 10.2196/resprot.5030. JMIR Res Protoc. 2016. PMID: 27189422 Free PMC article.
-
Do mobile phone-based reminders and conditional financial transfers improve the timeliness of childhood vaccinations in Tanzania? Study protocol for a quasi-randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2019 Jul 4;20(1):397. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3430-4. Trials. 2019. PMID: 31272487 Free PMC article.
-
Combined DTP-HBV-HIB vaccine versus separately administered DTP-HBV and HIB vaccines for primary prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae B (HIB).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Apr 18;(4):CD005530. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005530.pub3. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012. PMID: 22513932 Review.
-
Combined DTP-HBV-HIB vaccine versus separately administered DTP-HBV and HIB vaccines for primary prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae B (HIB).Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jul 8;(3):CD005530. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005530.pub2. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Apr 18;(4):CD005530. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005530.pub3. PMID: 19588375 Updated. Review.
Cited by
-
The effect of mHealth on childhood vaccination in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2024 Feb 21;19(2):e0294442. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294442. eCollection 2024. PLoS One. 2024. PMID: 38381753 Free PMC article.
-
Interventions for improving coverage of childhood immunisation in low- and middle-income countries.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Dec 6;12(12):CD008145. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008145.pub4. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023. PMID: 38054505 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Measuring under-5 mortality and fertility through mobile phone surveys: an assessment of selection bias in 34 low-income and middle-income countries.BMJ Open. 2023 Nov 17;13(11):e071791. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071791. BMJ Open. 2023. PMID: 37977863 Free PMC article.
-
Acceptance of a Text Messaging Vaccination Reminder and Recall System in Malaysia's Healthcare Sector: Extending the Technology Acceptance Model.Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Aug 6;11(8):1331. doi: 10.3390/vaccines11081331. Vaccines (Basel). 2023. PMID: 37631899 Free PMC article.
-
Improving the timeliness and completeness of childhood vaccination through color-coded bracelets: a pilot study among Fulani tribe populations in Nigeria.J Public Health Afr. 2023 May 3;14(5):2079. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2079. eCollection 2023 Apr 30. J Public Health Afr. 2023. PMID: 37441119 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Clark A, Sanderson C. Timing of children’s vaccinations in 45 low-income and middle-income countries: an analysis of survey data. Lancet. 2009;373(9674):1543–9. - PubMed
-
- BBC News. Africa’s mobile phone industry ‘booming’. 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15659983. Date accessed: April 20, 2012.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical