A comparative analysis of mothers preference for specific type of phone-derived reminders for routine immunization appointments in Ilorin, Nigeria
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Medicine in the Tropics
Abstract
Background: Forgotten immunization appointment is a factor associated with low immunization uptake in Nigeria which could be
addressed by a reminder-based intervention. Thus, there is a need to identify the type of reminder which would be preferred by the recipients
which was the aim of this study conducted in Ilorin, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 363 mothers was conducted at two public-based immunization
centers. Responses on willingness to receive text message or call reminders, preferred timing of appointment, and language of
communication, willingness to pay, antenatal, and delivery characteristics were obtained via questionnaires. Data were analyzed with the
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0 software (IBM Corporation, Virginia, USA).
Results: Text messages were preferred by 189 (52.1%) mothers and call by 174 (47.9%) mothers. A day prior to the scheduled
appointment was the preferred timing by 322 (88.7%) mothers. The local language was preferred by 133 (76.4%) mothers who wanted
calls, and 154 (81.5%) mothers who preferred text messages wanted English language. Logistic regression identified the odds of mothers
preference for text message compared with calls was eightfold to fivefold among those aged 21–25 and 31–35 years, respectively
compared with those aged <21 years, with each P < 0.005. Willingness to pay at most 50 naira for the reminders increased by eightfold
among those who preferred text messages compared with calls (odds ratio 8.4; 95% confidence interval 2.8–25.1).
Conclusion: Phone-derived reminders are a possible deployable tool for increasing immunization coverage in Nigeria. The optimal timing
for sending reminders is the day preceding the appointment. Call reminders are preferred delivered in the local language, whereas English is
preferred for text messages.
Description
Keywords
Children, immunization appointment, phone call, reminders, text messages
Citation
8. Ibraheem, R.M., Akintola, M.A., Abdulkadir, M.B., Adeboye, M.A.N., & Mohammad, M. (2018): A comparative analysis of mothers preference for specific type of phone-derived reminders for routine immunization appointments in Ilorin, Nigeria. Journal of Medicine in the Tropics. 20(1); 42-48.