Patterns of usage and preferences of users for tuberculosis related text messages and voice calls in Uganda
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Abstract
Little information exists about mobile
phone usage or preferences for tuberculosis (TB) related
health communications in Uganda.
METHODS : We surveyed household contacts of TB
patients in urban Kampala, Uganda, and clinic patients
in rural central Uganda. Questions addressed mobile
phone access, usage, and preferences for TB-related
communications. We collected qualitative data about
messaging preferences.
RESULT S : We enrolled 145 contacts and 203 clinic
attendees. Most contacts (58%) and clinic attendees
(75%) owned a mobile phone, while 42% of contacts
and 10% of clinic attendees shared one; 94% of contacts
and clinic attendees knew how to receive a short
messaging service (SMS) message, but only 59% of
contacts aged745 years (vs. 96% of contacts aged ,45
years, P¼0.0001) did so. All contacts and 99% of clinic
attendees were willing and capable of receiving personal-
health communications by SMS. Among contacts,
55% preferred detailed messages disclosing test results,
while 45% preferred simple messages requesting a clinic
visit to disclose results.
CONCLUS IONS : Most urban household TB contacts
and rural clinic attendees reported having access to a
mobile phone and willingness to receive TB-related
personal-health communications by voice call or SMS.
However, frequent phone sharing and variable messaging
abilities and preferences suggest a need to tailor the
design and monitoring of mHealth interventions to
target recipients.
Description
Keywords
Mobile technology, Information and communication technology, SMS
Citation
Ggita, J. M., Ojok, C., Meyer, A. J., Farr, K., Shete, P. B., Ochom, E., ... & Davis, J. L. (2018). Patterns of usage and preferences of users for tuberculosis-related text messages and voice calls in Uganda. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 22(5), 530-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.17.0521