The purpose of this study is to determine if in a rural setting of Ondo State, Nigeria, a customized automated telephone and email immunization reminder system will be feasible, acceptable, and significantly improve immunization utilization rates.
Background: Worldwide, vaccine preventable diseases account for 29% of all deaths between 1 month and 5 years, underscoring the importance of immunizations. In Nigeria, routine childhood immunization rates are unacceptably inconsistent and low, ranging from 35-85% at 14 weeks and 10-37% for all routine immunizations at 12-24 months. GAP: The feasibility, acceptability and utility of an automated phone immunization reminder system have never been explored in this rural setting of Nigeria. HYPOTHESIS: Given \~90% of the adult population in Nigeria uses a mobile phone, a customized mHealth immunization reminder system will be feasible and acceptable; and will significantly improve immunization rates in this rural setting of Ondo State, Nigeria. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial study design will be utilized. This study will recruit parents of healthy newborn infants delivered at Mother and Child Hospital Ondo, who live in Akure or Ondo Town and plan to receive their immunizations at Mother and Child Hospital Ondo. DATA ANALYSIS: The proportion of immunization visits between intervention and control groups will be compared using a two-sided, two sample test of proportions with p \<0.05 being significant. Secondary analysis will focus on the predictive value of social demographic variables on immunization rates.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
600
A customized windows® software application with the ability to send automated voice call, SMS and email reminder about due dates for childhood routine immunizations.
Mother and Child Hospital Ondo
Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
Mother and Child Hospital Ondo
Ondo, Nigeria
Immunization Rates at 14 weeks
To determine if an automated customized telephone and email immunization reminder system can increase the 14-week immunization rates, by at least 10% among those who receive immunization reminders versus those who do not.
Time frame: 14 Weeks
Immunization Rates at 14 Months
To determine the effect of an automated customized phone and email immunization reminder system on the proportion of children completely immunized at 14 months among those who receive immunization reminders versus those who do not.
Time frame: 14 Months
Timeliness of Immunization Receipt
To determine if the proportion of infants who receive their immunizations within 1-week of its due date is higher in infants of parents who receive phone and email immunization reminders versus those who do not.
Time frame: 14 Months
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