Evidence - SBC Impact
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Evidence - SBC Impact
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Text Messages - Correct Malaria Treatment Increased up to 24.5%

Tue, 10/25/2022 - 05:49
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Strategy researched

Text message reminders

Impact achieved

23.7% improvement in correct artemether-lumefantrine management immediately after intervention & 24.5% six months later.

Country of study

Kenya

Research methodology

Cluster RCT at 107 rural health facilities with 2,269 child cases

Journal

The Lancet; 2011

Journal paper title and link

The effect of mobile phone text-message reminders on Kenyan health workers' adherence to malaria treatment guidelines: a cluster randomised trial

Excerpt from Abstract

"119 health workers received the intervention. Case-management practices were assessed for 2269 children who needed treatment (1157 in the intervention group and 1112 in the control group). Intention-to-treat analysis showed that correct artemether-lumefantrine management improved by 23·7 percentage-points (95% CI 7·6–40·0; p=0·004) immediately after intervention and by 24·5 percentage-points (8·1–41·0; p=0·003) 6 months later."

Abstract at this link

 

Comments

Research approaches that demonstrate a simple intervention such as mobile messaging using a robust study design within health centers can show measurable behavioural impact. Unfortunately, RCTs are much more difficult where a range of SBCC approaches are used including mass media which has broad reach to population groups. In this instance recall of interventions is a good proxy measure of attendance to the intervention and subsequent behavioural impact. We have an article pending with PLOS ONE which demonstrates the efficacy of the approach.

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