None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
WHISPER is a mobile phone-based health promotion (mHealth) intervention in which text messages will be sent to female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. The messages address pregnancy prevention and other sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics, including HIV/ STI prevention and gender based violence, to improve participants’ knowledge and encourage them to adopt healthier behaviours. The intervention will be tested in a randomised controlled trial to determine whether it results in fewer unintended pregnancies. The participants receiving the WHISPER messages will be a compared to a second group receiving messages about nutritional health (the SHOUT intervention). Topics include nutritional needs, particularly iron and other micronutrients, locally appropriate food preparation and purchasing tips, water sanitation and hygiene, and food safety. The aim is to improve nutrition and reduce iron deficiency anaemia, and the rate of anaemia will be compared between the SHOUT and WHISPER groups. In other words, each intervention acts as the control group for the other. The messages for both groups are based on health promotion theory and consultation with FSWs in Mombasa to make them relevant, engaging and effective. As well as simple stand-alone texts, participants will receive stories about sex workers in similar circumstances, overcoming familiar challenges and barriers in order to change their behaviour – for example by using more effective long term contraceptive methods or eating a greater diversity of freshly foods. Participants will also be able to text into the system to request further information via automated response codes, without bearing the cost. The project is a collaboration between the International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH, Kenya) and the Burnet Institute, along with collaborating investigators from other institutions. ICRH is a local NGO with a long history of providing services and support to FSWs via outreach and drop-in clinics in Mombasa, including STI/HIV testing, pregnancy testing, counselling, and support for sexual and gender-based violence. ICRH has a respected role in the sex work community in Mombasa, and close links with other local community-based organisations working with FSWs.
Interventions
Mobile phone delivered health promotion intervention (mHealth intervention), addressing contraceptive options and their effectiveness and safety, and improvements in sexual and reproductive health self-efficacy, particularly through the promotion of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (non user-dependent) methods.
The intervention consists of three components:
- Health messages sent through a series of SMS;
- Theory-guided role model stories sent in text message instalments, promoting
Mobile phone delivered health promotion intervention (mHealth intervention), addressing contraceptive options and their effectiveness and safety, and improvements in sexual and reproductive health self-efficacy, particularly through the promotion of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (non user-dependent) methods. The intervention consists of three components: - Health messages sent through a series of SMS; - Theory-guided role model stories sent in text message instalments, promoting positive norms and attitudes, and increased self-efficacy for healthier behaviour; - On-demand system in which participants reply to texts free of charge to obtain more detailed information via SMS, Messages will be delivered from an online platform and sent 2-3 times per week for one year. The messages sent and received by participants will be tracked to ensure the system is functioning as planned, and to monitor participant engagement with the system.
Sponsors
Burnet Institute
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to 34 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- Self-report engaging in paid sex work in the last six months - Have a personal mobile phone with Safaricom or Airtel subscription, and be willing to provide the number to the researchers - Self-report being ‘SMS literate’ - Not currently pregnant or planning pregnancy within 12 months - Reside, and plan to continue to reside, within the site-specific catchment area for the next 12 months - Willing to provide reliable contact information (e.g. home address) to be contacted by a member of the research team in the community - Able and willing to give written informed consent for enrolment in the study.
Exclusion criteria
- Planning to travel or relocate from the study areas - Participating in another mHealth intervention study - Having a medical or non-medical issue incapacitating participation in the research, as decided by the local Principal Investigator.
Outcome results
None listed