TY - JOUR
T1 - Short message service (SMS) as an educational tool during pregnancy
T2 - A literature review
AU - Lamont, Kim
AU - Sliwa, Karen
AU - Stewart, Simon
AU - Carrington, Melinda
AU - Pretorius, Sandra
AU - Libhaber, Elena
AU - Wiysonge, Charles S.
AU - Adebayo, Esther F.
AU - Klipstein-Grobusch, Kerstin
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - Background: In many low- and middle-income countries, access to health information during pregnancy is poor. The rapid adoption of mobile phones in these countries has created new opportunities for disseminating such information. Objective: This paper reviews existing information on the use of short message services (SMSs) as a feasible tool to transmit health education information. Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE and Google scholar databases were searched for studies in which mobile phone SMSs were used to promote health education during pregnancy. Studies of adult women, from any setting, who received SMS health education messages during their pregnancy, were included, irrespective of study design. Results: The analysis of results followed a narrative synthesis approach, a textual approach involving a synthesis of findings from multiple studies. The synthesis was developed manually, based on the extraction of data. All studies demonstrated use or interest in SMS technology to facilitate health information messaging. Findings from several studies showed that pregnant women were both receptive and willing to use SMS technology to enhance their health. In Zanzibar, the effect of SMS on skilled delivery rates and access to emergency healthcare was assessed. The effects SMS alerts had on hospital deliveries and SMS interventions had on facility use during pregnancy were assessed in Rwanda. Conclusion: The review highlights the practicality and willingness of utilising SMS technology to promote or enhance health education.
AB - Background: In many low- and middle-income countries, access to health information during pregnancy is poor. The rapid adoption of mobile phones in these countries has created new opportunities for disseminating such information. Objective: This paper reviews existing information on the use of short message services (SMSs) as a feasible tool to transmit health education information. Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE and Google scholar databases were searched for studies in which mobile phone SMSs were used to promote health education during pregnancy. Studies of adult women, from any setting, who received SMS health education messages during their pregnancy, were included, irrespective of study design. Results: The analysis of results followed a narrative synthesis approach, a textual approach involving a synthesis of findings from multiple studies. The synthesis was developed manually, based on the extraction of data. All studies demonstrated use or interest in SMS technology to facilitate health information messaging. Findings from several studies showed that pregnant women were both receptive and willing to use SMS technology to enhance their health. In Zanzibar, the effect of SMS on skilled delivery rates and access to emergency healthcare was assessed. The effects SMS alerts had on hospital deliveries and SMS interventions had on facility use during pregnancy were assessed in Rwanda. Conclusion: The review highlights the practicality and willingness of utilising SMS technology to promote or enhance health education.
KW - Evidence review
KW - health education
KW - narrative synthesis pregnancy
KW - SMS
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84981215127&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0017896915607910
DO - 10.1177/0017896915607910
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84981215127
VL - 75
SP - 540
EP - 552
JO - Health Education Journal
JF - Health Education Journal
SN - 0017-8969
IS - 5
ER -