Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study
Abstract Background Despite the extensive implementation of control measures and achievements in morbidity reductions, malaria continues to contribute to substantial morbidity and mortality in children under-five. Innovative approaches involving the use of mobile phones have been suggested to improv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7336-6 |
| _version_ | 1818189187891855360 |
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| author | Aliyu Mohammed Princess Ruhama Acheampong Easmon Otupiri Francis Adjei Osei Roderick Larson-Reindorf Ellis Owusu-Dabo |
| author_facet | Aliyu Mohammed Princess Ruhama Acheampong Easmon Otupiri Francis Adjei Osei Roderick Larson-Reindorf Ellis Owusu-Dabo |
| author_sort | Aliyu Mohammed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite the extensive implementation of control measures and achievements in morbidity reductions, malaria continues to contribute to substantial morbidity and mortality in children under-five. Innovative approaches involving the use of mobile phones have been suggested to improve health outcomes. However, evidence of its effect on reducing the prevalence of malaria is limited. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the effect of a theory-driven mHealth intervention on the prevalence of malaria among children under-five living in rural districts of Ghana. Methods We conducted a quasi-experimental study of a 12-month intervention using a random sample of 332 caregivers with children under-five from two rural districts, assigned to either an intervention or a control group. Caregivers in the intervention group received voice short message service (SMS) on malaria prevention based on a behavior change theory to improve their health behaviors and practice, once a week for twelve months, while caregivers in the control group received none. Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the treatment effect (ATT) on malaria in children under-five was conducted using propensity score and difference-in-difference (DiD) analyses. Results Among children whose caregivers received the intervention, the prevalence of malaria decreased from 58.4% at baseline to 37.8% at endline (difference: -20.6%; 95% CI: − 31.1, − 10.1) compared with children in the control group, where a reduction of 65.0 to 59.9% (difference − 5.1%; 95% CI: − 15.5, 5.4) was observed. The treatment effect at endline revealed a statistically significant reduction in malaria prevalence (ATT: -0.214; 95% CI: − 0.36, − 0.07) compared with the baseline (ATT: -0.035; 95% CI: − 0.16, 0.09). Overall, the intervention effect showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of malaria among children under-five was positive (DiD: − 0.154; p = 0.043). Conclusion The results of the study indicate the effectiveness of mobile phone SMS as a control tool for reducing the burden of malaria in children under-five. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:38:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-891326a46706461894226c5586f1d71a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:38:50Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-891326a46706461894226c5586f1d71a2022-12-22T00:45:47ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582019-08-0119111110.1186/s12889-019-7336-6Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental studyAliyu Mohammed0Princess Ruhama Acheampong1Easmon Otupiri2Francis Adjei Osei3Roderick Larson-Reindorf4Ellis Owusu-Dabo5School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)Abstract Background Despite the extensive implementation of control measures and achievements in morbidity reductions, malaria continues to contribute to substantial morbidity and mortality in children under-five. Innovative approaches involving the use of mobile phones have been suggested to improve health outcomes. However, evidence of its effect on reducing the prevalence of malaria is limited. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the effect of a theory-driven mHealth intervention on the prevalence of malaria among children under-five living in rural districts of Ghana. Methods We conducted a quasi-experimental study of a 12-month intervention using a random sample of 332 caregivers with children under-five from two rural districts, assigned to either an intervention or a control group. Caregivers in the intervention group received voice short message service (SMS) on malaria prevention based on a behavior change theory to improve their health behaviors and practice, once a week for twelve months, while caregivers in the control group received none. Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the treatment effect (ATT) on malaria in children under-five was conducted using propensity score and difference-in-difference (DiD) analyses. Results Among children whose caregivers received the intervention, the prevalence of malaria decreased from 58.4% at baseline to 37.8% at endline (difference: -20.6%; 95% CI: − 31.1, − 10.1) compared with children in the control group, where a reduction of 65.0 to 59.9% (difference − 5.1%; 95% CI: − 15.5, 5.4) was observed. The treatment effect at endline revealed a statistically significant reduction in malaria prevalence (ATT: -0.214; 95% CI: − 0.36, − 0.07) compared with the baseline (ATT: -0.035; 95% CI: − 0.16, 0.09). Overall, the intervention effect showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of malaria among children under-five was positive (DiD: − 0.154; p = 0.043). Conclusion The results of the study indicate the effectiveness of mobile phone SMS as a control tool for reducing the burden of malaria in children under-five.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7336-6mHealthMobile phoneMalariaBehavior change communicationChild healthExtended parallel process model (EPPM) |
| spellingShingle | Aliyu Mohammed Princess Ruhama Acheampong Easmon Otupiri Francis Adjei Osei Roderick Larson-Reindorf Ellis Owusu-Dabo Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study BMC Public Health mHealth Mobile phone Malaria Behavior change communication Child health Extended parallel process model (EPPM) |
| title | Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study |
| title_full | Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study |
| title_fullStr | Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study |
| title_short | Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi-experimental study |
| title_sort | mobile phone short message service sms as a malaria control tool a quasi experimental study |
| topic | mHealth Mobile phone Malaria Behavior change communication Child health Extended parallel process model (EPPM) |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7336-6 |
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