Cervical cancer screening adherence and the SMS: Screening adherence and availability of the mobile phone SMS in women attending the outpatient clinic at Thika Level 5 Hospital
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Date
2015
Authors
Wanyoro, A.K.
Kabiru, Ephantus W.
Bubusi, E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University, School of Medicine
Abstract
Background: Despite the availability of
various cervical cancer screening methods
in Kenya, few women are screened and
even fewer adhere to subsequent scheduled
screening. The WHO recommends that
an effective cervical cancer screening
program needs to in-cooperate a strong
component of call and recall in order to
keep eligible women in the screening
cycle. With a good mobile phone network
the short text message (SMS) was seen as
a good tool to enhance regular screening in
Kenya and in most developing countries.
Objective: The objectives of the study
were to determine the adherence to
regular cervical cancer screening among
women attending the outpatient clinic at
Thika hospital, ownership and duration of
mobile phones ownership and frequency
of change of the mobile phone numbers
among women who have ever been
screened for cervical cancer as well as
assess their ability to read and write
short text message (SMS) and previous
reception of a health promoting SMS
through the mobile phone.
Methods: A provider administered
questionnaire in a formative cross sectional
prospective survey as part of a RCT on the
use of the SMS to enhance adherence to
scheduled cervical cancer screening. The
questionnaire was administered in 193
women attending the general outpatient
clinic in Thika hospital. Questions about
their adherence to scheduled screening,
ownership and usage of the mobile phones
and experience with usage of the SMS
services were asked.
Main outcomes measures: These
included adherence to regular cervical
cancer screening, ownership and length of
ownerships of a mobile phone, change of
SIM card numbers and ability to read and
write an SMS.
Results: It was found that few women
(9%) were adherent to regular screening.
Majority of these women (98%) owned
mobile phones and few (13.2%) ever
changed their numbers. Most (92%) were
3
able to read and write an SMS. Very
few (2.1%) had ever received 'a health
promoting SMS. .
Conclusion and recommendation: It
was concluded that since many women
owned mobile phones and rarely change
their numbers and also are able to read
an SMS, the SMS can be used as a recall
tool to enhance adherence to cervical
cancer screening. It was recommended
that the SMS should be in-cooperated as
a recall tool in the national cervical cancer
screening program as per WHO guidelines
on cervical cancer screening programs.
Description
This article was scanned from a hard copy of the East and Central Africa medical journal Vol.2 no1 2015
Keywords
Cervical cancer, Screening, Mobile phone, SMS
Citation
East and Central Africa Medical Journal 2015; 2(1): 3-6