Do mobile phone-based reminders and conditional financial transfers improve the timeliness of childhood vaccinations in Tanzania? Study protocol for a quasi-randomized controlled trial

This study evaluates the efficacy of mobile phone-based (mHealth) reminders and incentives for improving vaccination timeliness in the first year of life.MethodsThe study, conducted in Mtwara Region in Tanzania, includes 400 late-stage pregnant women enrolled from rural and urban health facilities and surrounding communities. The primary outcome is timeliness of vaccinations among their children at 6, 10, and 14  weeks after birth. Timeliness is defined as vaccination receipt within 28 days after the vaccination due date. The quasi-randomized controlled trial includes three arms: (1) standard of care (no reminders or incentives), (2) mobile phone-based reminders, and (3) mobile phone-based reminders and incentives in the form of conditional financial transfers. Assignment into study arms is based on scheduled vaccination dates. Reminder messages are sent to arms 2 and 3 participants via mobile phones 1 week and 1 day prior to each scheduled vaccination. For arm 3 participants, reminder message s offer an incentive that is provided in the form of a mobile phone airtime recharge voucher code for each timely vaccination. Vaccination dates are recorded via participant contact with an mHealth system, phone calls with mothers, and a review of government-issued vaccination cards during an end-li ne survey. Random effects logistic regression models will be used to estimate the effects of reminders and incentives on the timeliness of vaccinations.DiscussionThe results will inf...
Source: Trials - Category: Research Source Type: clinical trials