RP-Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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Browsing RP-Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by Author "Kabiru, E.W."

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    Use of Mobile Phone Short Text Message Service to Enhance Cervical Cancer Screening at Thika Level 5 Hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya: A Randomised Controlled Trial
    (Wiley Online Library, 2017) Wanyoro, A.K.; Kabiru, E.W.
    Cervical cancer is a major public health problem among adult women especially in developing countries hence its control is of paramount importance. Organized screening programs have led to a large decline in cervical cancer incidence and mortality in developed countries. In Kenya, very few women at risk of the disease have regular repeat screening and there exists no effective recall mechanism to enhance scheduled screening. The Short Message Service (SMS) Text may be used as a recall tool to enhance cervical cancer screening in developing countries such as Kenya, where other communication means may not be easily available. A blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted where participants were recruited from among screening naïve patients at Thika Level 5 hospital. The participants were randomly allocated to an intervention (Short Message Service (SMS) text reminders) and a control (no SMS) arm. The study aimed to determine the influence of using SMS text reminders in enhancing adherence to scheduled repeat screening for cervical cancer. The mean age of the participants was 38.8 ± 10.8, most were married and of low socio- economic status. It was found that 67.1% of participants in the intervention arm and 20.3% in the control arm re-attended to rescreening making those who received SMS reminders 8 times more likely to adhere to scheduled rescreening than those who did not receive reminders (OR 8.02; CI 95% 4.69-13.73; p-<0.001). The study recommended that the Short Text Message Service (SMS) reminders should be integrated into the cervical cancer screening programs in resource constrained countries like Kenya.