Can mobile phone messages to drug sellers improve treatment of childhood diarrhoea?--A randomized controlled trial in Ghana

Health Policy and Planning
Willa FriedmanMinki Chatterji

Abstract

Oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc are the recommended treatment in developing countries for the management of uncomplicated diarrhoea in children under five (World Health Organization and UNICEF 2004). However, drug sellers often recommend costly and unnecessary treatments instead. This article reports findings from an experiment to encourage licensed chemical sellers (LCS) in Ghana to recommend ORS and zinc for the management of childhood diarrhoea. The intervention consisted of mobile phone text messages (Short Message Service or SMS) sent to a randomly assigned group of LCS who had been trained on the diarrhoea management protocols recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The SMS campaign comprised informational messages and interactive quizzes sent over an 8-week period. The study measured the impact of the SMS messages on both reported and actual practices. Analysis of data from both face-to-face interviews and mystery client visits shows that the SMS intervention improved providers' self-reported practices but not their actual practices. The study also finds that actual practices deviate substantially from reported practices.

References

Apr 1, 1996·Social Science & Medicine·B SantosoJ E Prawaitasari
Apr 1, 1996·Social Science & Medicine·D Ofori-Adjei, D K Arhinful
Aug 5, 1996·Health Policy and Planning·D Ross-DegnanR Hogan
Apr 20, 2002·The International Journal of Health Planning and Management·S SiddiqiR Sauerborn
Apr 1, 2008·The Journal of Economic Perspectives : a Journal of the American Economic Association·Jishnu DasKenneth Leonard
Oct 2, 2009·The Journal of Economic Perspectives : a Journal of the American Economic Association·Randall D CebulMark E Votruba
Dec 5, 2009·Health Economics·Kenneth L Leonard, Melkiory C Masatu
Mar 26, 2010·BMC Medicine·Kenneth F SchulzUNKNOWN CONSORT Group
May 15, 2010·Lancet·Robert E BlackUNKNOWN Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group of WHO and UNICEF
Feb 24, 2011·Health Policy and Planning·Charles P LarsonUNKNOWN Scaling Up of Zinc for Young Children (SUZY) Project Team
Jul 8, 2011·Journal of Health Economics·Janet CurrieWei Zhang
Apr 16, 2014·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Neeraj Sood, Zachary Wagner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 10, 2019·The International Journal of Pharmacy Practice·Ingunn BjörnsdottirPauline Norris
Aug 5, 2018·Health Research Policy and Systems·Gordon Abekah-NkrumahJohnson Ermel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.