Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background The World Health Organization estimates that 29% of under-five mortality could be prevented with existing vaccines. However, non-consistent attendance for immunization appointments remains a global challenge to healthcare providers. Thus, innovative strategies are required to rea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Systematic Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13643-019-1054-0 |
| _version_ | 1818457496295047168 |
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| author | Zeleke Abebaw Mekonnen Kassahun Alemu Gelaye Martin C. Were Kassahun Dessie Gashu Binyam Chakilu Tilahun |
| author_facet | Zeleke Abebaw Mekonnen Kassahun Alemu Gelaye Martin C. Were Kassahun Dessie Gashu Binyam Chakilu Tilahun |
| author_sort | Zeleke Abebaw Mekonnen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The World Health Organization estimates that 29% of under-five mortality could be prevented with existing vaccines. However, non-consistent attendance for immunization appointments remains a global challenge to healthcare providers. Thus, innovative strategies are required to reach the last mile where technology could be effectively utilized to achieve better compliance with children immunization schedules. Therefore, the aim of the review was to systematically collect and summarize the available evidence on the effectiveness of text message reminders on childhood vaccination. Methods This review was conducted according to a priori published protocol on PROSPERO. A systematic literature search of databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane/Wiley library, and Science direct) was conducted. Eligibility and risk of bias assessments were performed independently by two reviewers. PRISMA flow diagrams were used to summarize the study selection process. Taking into account the level of heterogeneity, a random effects model was used and risk ratios with their 95% CI were used to present the pooled estimates. To investigate the sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis were also considered. In this review, publication bias was assessed statistically using Harbord test. Results A total of 1771 articles were searched. Out of those 1771 articles, 558 duplicated articles were removed. About 1213 articles were further screened, and finally, ten articles met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that there is a significant effect of text message reminders on childhood vaccination coverage (RR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.05–1.17) with a moderate level of heterogeneity (I 2 = 64.3%, P = 0.003). The results from the Harbord test suggested that there is no evidence for publication bias (P = 0.340). Conclusion This review highlights the potential benefits of incorporating mobile text message reminders into the standard management of childhood immunizations, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The frequency and timing of the text message reminders are also crucial in determining the effectiveness of text message reminders. Hence, mHealth interventions deserve more attention as a potential innovation to improve healthcare programs. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42017074230 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:43:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee90defb7bc949e3bfe4c4c3524eb365 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-4053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:43:29Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systematic Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee90defb7bc949e3bfe4c4c3524eb3652022-12-21T22:44:54ZengBMCSystematic Reviews2046-40532019-06-018111410.1186/s13643-019-1054-0Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysisZeleke Abebaw Mekonnen0Kassahun Alemu Gelaye1Martin C. Were2Kassahun Dessie Gashu3Binyam Chakilu Tilahun4Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarVanderbilt University Medical CenterDepartment of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarAbstract Background The World Health Organization estimates that 29% of under-five mortality could be prevented with existing vaccines. However, non-consistent attendance for immunization appointments remains a global challenge to healthcare providers. Thus, innovative strategies are required to reach the last mile where technology could be effectively utilized to achieve better compliance with children immunization schedules. Therefore, the aim of the review was to systematically collect and summarize the available evidence on the effectiveness of text message reminders on childhood vaccination. Methods This review was conducted according to a priori published protocol on PROSPERO. A systematic literature search of databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane/Wiley library, and Science direct) was conducted. Eligibility and risk of bias assessments were performed independently by two reviewers. PRISMA flow diagrams were used to summarize the study selection process. Taking into account the level of heterogeneity, a random effects model was used and risk ratios with their 95% CI were used to present the pooled estimates. To investigate the sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis were also considered. In this review, publication bias was assessed statistically using Harbord test. Results A total of 1771 articles were searched. Out of those 1771 articles, 558 duplicated articles were removed. About 1213 articles were further screened, and finally, ten articles met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that there is a significant effect of text message reminders on childhood vaccination coverage (RR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.05–1.17) with a moderate level of heterogeneity (I 2 = 64.3%, P = 0.003). The results from the Harbord test suggested that there is no evidence for publication bias (P = 0.340). Conclusion This review highlights the potential benefits of incorporating mobile text message reminders into the standard management of childhood immunizations, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The frequency and timing of the text message reminders are also crucial in determining the effectiveness of text message reminders. Hence, mHealth interventions deserve more attention as a potential innovation to improve healthcare programs. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42017074230http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13643-019-1054-0VaccinationImmunizationText messagemHealth |
| spellingShingle | Zeleke Abebaw Mekonnen Kassahun Alemu Gelaye Martin C. Were Kassahun Dessie Gashu Binyam Chakilu Tilahun Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis Systematic Reviews Vaccination Immunization Text message mHealth |
| title | Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Vaccination Immunization Text message mHealth |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13643-019-1054-0 |
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