Does short message service improve focused antenatal care visit and skilled birth attendance? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Wagnew, Fasil; Dessie, Getenet; Alebel, Animut; Mulugeta, Henok; Belay, Yihalem Abebe; Abajobir, Amanuel Alemu

doi:10.1186/s12978-018-0635-z

Cited by 40 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Similarly, SMS reminders may be effective for promoting antenatal care visits. In a systematic review and meta‐analysis, pregnant women who received text messaging were more likely to complete the four, focused antenatal care visits previously recommended by the WHO (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.41 to 5.32) [107]. National programmes have begun to integrate such strategies into routine antenatal care [108].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerating progress towards the elimination of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV: a narrative review

et al. 2020

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Introduction Findings from biomedical, behavioural and implementation studies provide a rich foundation to guide programmatic efforts for the prevention of mother‐to‐child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Methods We summarized the current evidence base to support policy makers, programme managers, funding agencies and other stakeholders in designing and optimizing PMTCT programmes. We searched the scientific literature for PMTCT interventions in the era of universal antiretroviral therapy for pregnant and breastfeeding women (i.e. 2013 onward). Where evidence was sparse, relevant studies from the general HIV treatment literature or from prior eras of PMTCT programme implementation were also considered. Studies were organized into six categories: HIV prevention services for women, timely access to HIV testing, timely access to ART, programme retention and adherence support, timely engagement in antenatal care and services for infants at highest risk of HIV acquisition. These were mapped to specific missed opportunities identified by the UNAIDS Spectrum model and embedded in UNICEF operational guidance to optimize PMTCT services. Results and discussion From May to November 2019, we identified numerous promising, evidence‐based strategies that, properly tailored and adopted, could contribute to population reductions in vertical HIV transmission. These spanned the HIV and maternal and child health literature, emphasizing the importance of continued alignment and integration of services. We observed overlap between several intervention domains, suggesting potential for synergies and increased downstream impact. Common themes included integration of facility‐based healthcare; decentralization of health services from facilities to communities; and engagement of partners, peers and lay workers for social support. Approaches to ensure early HIV diagnosis and treatment prior to pregnancy would strengthen care across the maternal lifespan and should be promoted in the context of PMTCT. Conclusions A wide range of effective strategies exist to improve PMTCT access, uptake and retention. Programmes should carefully consider, prioritize and plan those that are most appropriate for the local setting and best address existing gaps in PMTCT health services.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerating progress towards the elimination of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV: a narrative review

et al. 2020

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“…This report continues to demonstrate that only 53% of women with no education attended the recommended for antenatal visits compared to 72% of women with more than a secondary education. Though not meant for illiterates, a recent systematic review demonstrates some evidence that mobile phone-based SMS text reminders can improve adherence to attending antenatal visits [27] in a low resource setting. Being reminded by mobile phone-SMS based reminders could potentially result into forming a habit of adopting a health behavior [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Mobile Phone-based Multimedia Application Could Improve Maternal Health in Rural Southwestern Uganda: Mixed Methods Study

Musiimenta

Tumuhimbise

Mugyenyi

et al. 2020

OJPHI

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Background: Reducing maternal and infant mortality rates remains challenging. Illiteracy, lack of reliable information, long distances to health centers continue to limit access to quality maternal healthcare in Uganda. Mobile health technologies could be promising affordable strategies for enhancing access to maternal health services. However, there is lack of studies assessing the experiences of illiterate rural pregnant women regarding these technologies. Objective: To explore how illiterate pregnant women perceive a maternal health mobile application composed of tailored video and audio messages, appointment reminders and calling function. Methods: We purposively sampled illiterate pregnant women initiating antenatal care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. We carried out three focus group discussions with 14 women to elicit information on perceptions of the proposed mobile phone based multimedia application. We used STATA 13 to describe study participants and their preferences. Results: Pregnant women anticipated that intervention would enhance maternal health by reminding them to attend antenatal appointments, enabling transport cost and time saving, providing tailored information that is easy to understand, and recall. However, financial constraints and phone sharing would limit the functionality.Conclusion: Mhealth application may provide acceptable and affordable alternative approaches to providing maternal health services, especially in settings where face-to-face approaches are challenging.

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“…Similarly, studies in Malawi and Iraq found increased ANC attendance among women who received a unidirectional text or voice messaging intervention and access to hotlines or phone numbers to call with questions [ 5 , 6 ]. A recent meta-analysis of seven RCTs in low- and middle-income countries found evidence that text messages for pregnant women significantly increased ANC attendance by 174% [ 7 ]. Other studies have also found SMS text messaging interventions to increase mothers’ knowledge, preparedness, feelings of empowerment, and satisfaction with ANC [ 7 - 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent meta-analysis of seven RCTs in low- and middle-income countries found evidence that text messages for pregnant women significantly increased ANC attendance by 174% [ 7 ]. Other studies have also found SMS text messaging interventions to increase mothers’ knowledge, preparedness, feelings of empowerment, and satisfaction with ANC [ 7 - 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promoting Antenatal Care Attendance Through a Text Messaging Intervention in Samoa: Quasi-Experimental Study

Watterson

Castaneda

Catalani

2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Antenatal care (ANC) has the potential to improve maternal health, but it remains underutilized and unevenly implemented in many low- and middle-income countries. Increasingly, text messaging programs for pregnant women show evidence that they can improve the utilization of ANC during pregnancy; however, gaps remain regarding how implementation affects outcomes. Objective This study aimed to assess facilitators and barriers to implementation of an SMS text messaging intervention for pregnant women in Samoa and to assess its impact on ANC attendance. Methods This study took place in Upolu, Samoa, from March to August 2014 and employed a quasi-experimental design. Half (n=3) of the public antenatal clinics on the island offered adult pregnant women the SMS text messaging intervention, with 552 women registering for the messages. At the comparison clinics (n=3), 255 women registered and received usual care. The intervention consisted of unidirectional text messages containing health tips and appointment reminders. The outcome of interest was the number of attended antenatal visits. Implementation data were also collected through a survey of the participating midwives (n=7) and implementation notes. Data analysis included a comparison of women’s baseline characteristics between the two groups, followed by the use of negative binomial regressions to test for associations between participation in the intervention and increased ANC attendance, controlling for individual characteristics and accounting for the clustering of women within clinics. Results The comparison of ANC attendance rates found that women receiving the SMS text messaging intervention attended 15% fewer ANC visits than the comparison group (P=.004), controlling for individual characteristics and clustering. Data analysis of the implementation process suggests that barriers to successful implementation include women registering very late in pregnancy, sharing their phone with others, and inconsistent explanation of the intervention to women. Conclusions These results suggest that unidirectional text messages do not encourage, and might even discourage, ANC attendance in Samoa. Interpreted with other evidence in the literature, these results suggest that SMS text messaging interventions are more effective when they facilitate better communication between patients and health workers. This study is an important contribution to our understanding of when SMS text messaging interventions are and are not effective in improving maternal health care utilization.

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Does short message service improve focused antenatal care visit and skilled birth attendance? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Cited by 40 publications

References 48 publications

Accelerating progress towards the elimination of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV: a narrative review

Accelerating progress towards the elimination of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV: a narrative review

A Mobile Phone-based Multimedia Application Could Improve Maternal Health in Rural Southwestern Uganda: Mixed Methods Study

Promoting Antenatal Care Attendance Through a Text Messaging Intervention in Samoa: Quasi-Experimental Study

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