Mobile phone SMS are increasingly used to promote positive health behaviour with an aim to improve health outcomes. However, robust data on the efficacy of SMS on health seeking behaviour and patient outcomes in resource-limited settings is sparse. The SMSaude study aims to assess whether regular SMS-reminders improve retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programmes in Mozambique.
SMSaúde is a multisite randomised clinical trial of HIV-infected adults on ART and HIV-infected pregnant women in six clinics in Maputo Province, Mozambique. Eligibility criteria include: currently residing in the province; no plans to move for 12+ months; have own cell-phone; literate; 8-28 weeks pregnant (PMTCT cohort); on first line ART and on ART for \>15 days (ART cohort). Patients were interviewed for eligibility, and then randomized (1:1). SMS reminders are sent to the intervention group using software that picks up the patient's next appointment from the electronic patient database. Primary outcomes tested were improved retention in ART care and uptake of all PMTCT services.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
1,352
Intervention participants only will be sent text messages to their phones. The content of text messages will have a maximum of 160 characters and not mention HIV and will state the dates for the forthcoming consultations, visits to the pharmacy, lab results, time to take medication and reminders for patients who miss appointments.
6 Health Facilities
Matola, Xinavane, Machava and Namaacha, Maputo, Mozambique
Retention in ART care
Time frame: 12 months
Retention in PMTCT care
Time frame: until 8 weeks post partum
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