Administration, Technical University of Mombasa, Mombasa, Kenya
4-PSRI, International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya, Mombasa, Kenya.
BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 6;12(1):e047426. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047426.
The objective of this randomised controlled trial in Kenya was to assess the effect of delivering sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information via text message to young people on their ability to reject contraception-related myths and misconceptions.
A three-arm, unblinded randomised controlled trial with a ratio of 1:1:1 in Kwale County, Kenya.
A total of 740 youth aged 18-24 years were randomised. Intervention arm participants could access informational SRH text messages on-demand. Contact arm participants received once weekly texts instructing them to study on an SRH topic on their own. Control arm participants received standard care. The intervention period was 7 weeks.
We assessed change myths believed at baseline and endline using an index of 10 contraception-related myths. We assessed change across arms using difference of difference analysis.
Across arms, <5% of participants did not have any formal education, <10% were living alone, about 50% were single and >80% had never given birth. Between baseline and endline, there was a statistically significant drop in the average absolute number of myths and misconceptions believed by intervention arm (11.1%, 95% CI 17.1% to 5.2%), contact arm (14.4%, 95% CI 20.5% to 8.4%) and control arm (11.3%, 95% CI 17.4% to 5.2%) participants. However, we observed no statistically significant difference in the magnitude of change across arms.
We are unable to conclusively state that the text message intervention was better than text message 'contact' or no intervention at all. Digital health likely has potential for improving SRH-related outcomes when used as part of multifaceted interventions. Additional studies with physical and geographical separation of different arms is warranted.
ISRCTN85156148.
本肯尼亚随机对照试验的目的是评估通过短信向年轻人传递性健康和生殖健康（SRH）信息对其拒绝避孕相关误解和错误观念的能力的影响。
在肯尼亚夸莱县进行的三臂、非盲随机对照试验，比例为 1:1:1。
共有 740 名年龄在 18-24 岁的年轻人被随机分组。干预组的参与者可以按需获取信息性的 SRH 短信。接触组的参与者每周收到一次短信，指示他们自行学习 SRH 主题。对照组的参与者接受标准护理。干预期为 7 周。
我们使用 10 项避孕相关误解的指数评估了基线和终点时相信的误解的变化。我们使用差异分析评估了各臂之间的变化。
在各臂中，不到 5%的参与者没有接受过任何正规教育，不到 10%的参与者独居，约 50%的参与者单身，超过 80%的参与者从未生育过。在基线和终点之间，干预组（11.1%，95%CI 17.1%至 5.2%）、接触组（14.4%，95%CI 20.5%至 8.4%）和对照组（11.3%，95%CI 17.4%至 5.2%）参与者相信的误解数量都有统计学显著下降。然而，我们没有观察到各臂之间变化幅度的统计学显著差异。
我们无法确定短信干预比短信“接触”或根本没有干预更好。当数字健康作为多方面干预的一部分使用时，它可能具有改善与 SRH 相关结果的潜力。需要进行更多的研究，以在物理和地理上分离不同的手臂。
ISRCTN85156148。
