Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction Childhood vaccine delivery services in the low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are struggling to reach every child with lifesaving vaccines. Short message service (SMS) reminders have demonstrated positive impact on a number of attrition-prone healthcare delivery services. We aimed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005035.full |
| _version_ | 1831729459466600448 |
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| author | Yubraj Acharya Paul Eze Lucky Osaheni Lawani |
| author_facet | Yubraj Acharya Paul Eze Lucky Osaheni Lawani |
| author_sort | Yubraj Acharya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Childhood vaccine delivery services in the low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are struggling to reach every child with lifesaving vaccines. Short message service (SMS) reminders have demonstrated positive impact on a number of attrition-prone healthcare delivery services. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SMS reminders in improving immunisation coverage and timeliness in LMICs.Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, CNKI, PsycINFO and Web of Science including grey literatures and Google Scholar were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that evaluated the effect of SMS reminders on childhood immunisation and timeliness in LMICs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 assessment tool for RCTs and Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool for non-RCTs. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models to generate pooled estimates of risk ratio (RR).Results 18 studies, 13 RCTs and 5 non-RCTs involving 32 712 infants (17 135 in intervention groups and 15 577 in control groups) from 11 LMICs met inclusion criteria. Pooled estimates showed that SMS reminders significantly improved childhood immunisation coverage (RR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.21; I2=90.4%). Meta-analysis of 12 included studies involving 25 257 infants showed that SMS reminders significantly improved timely receipt of childhood vaccines (RR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.30; I2=87.3%). Subgroup analysis showed that SMS reminders are significantly more effective in raising childhood immunisation coverage in lower middle-income and low-income countries than in upper middle-income countries (p<0.001) and sending more than two SMS reminders significantly improves timely receipt of childhood vaccines than one or two SMS reminders (p=0.040).Conclusion Current evidence from LMICs, although with significant heterogeneity, suggests that SMS reminders can contribute to achieving high and timely childhood immunisation coverage.PROSPERO registration number CRD42021225843. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T07:11:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d25832f6af049b9ac002894f5ab2f39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T07:11:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d25832f6af049b9ac002894f5ab2f392022-12-21T19:11:57ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082021-07-016710.1136/bmjgh-2021-005035Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysisYubraj Acharya0Paul Eze1Lucky Osaheni Lawani2Department of Health Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Health Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USAInstitute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaIntroduction Childhood vaccine delivery services in the low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are struggling to reach every child with lifesaving vaccines. Short message service (SMS) reminders have demonstrated positive impact on a number of attrition-prone healthcare delivery services. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SMS reminders in improving immunisation coverage and timeliness in LMICs.Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, CNKI, PsycINFO and Web of Science including grey literatures and Google Scholar were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that evaluated the effect of SMS reminders on childhood immunisation and timeliness in LMICs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 assessment tool for RCTs and Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool for non-RCTs. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models to generate pooled estimates of risk ratio (RR).Results 18 studies, 13 RCTs and 5 non-RCTs involving 32 712 infants (17 135 in intervention groups and 15 577 in control groups) from 11 LMICs met inclusion criteria. Pooled estimates showed that SMS reminders significantly improved childhood immunisation coverage (RR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.21; I2=90.4%). Meta-analysis of 12 included studies involving 25 257 infants showed that SMS reminders significantly improved timely receipt of childhood vaccines (RR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.30; I2=87.3%). Subgroup analysis showed that SMS reminders are significantly more effective in raising childhood immunisation coverage in lower middle-income and low-income countries than in upper middle-income countries (p<0.001) and sending more than two SMS reminders significantly improves timely receipt of childhood vaccines than one or two SMS reminders (p=0.040).Conclusion Current evidence from LMICs, although with significant heterogeneity, suggests that SMS reminders can contribute to achieving high and timely childhood immunisation coverage.PROSPERO registration number CRD42021225843.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005035.full |
| spellingShingle | Yubraj Acharya Paul Eze Lucky Osaheni Lawani Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ Global Health |
| title | Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | short message service sms reminders for childhood immunisation in low income and middle income countries a systematic review and meta analysis |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/7/e005035.full |
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