Utility of Short Message Service (SMS) for Remote Data Collection for HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
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EHEALTH AND HIV (J SIMONI AND B GUTHRIE, SECTION EDITORS)
Utility of Short Message Service (SMS) for Remote Data Collection for HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Alison L. Drake 1 & Claire Rothschild 2 & Wenwen Jiang 2 & Keshet Ronen 1 & Jennifer A. Unger 1,3 Accepted: 15 September 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose of Review Short message system (SMS) communication is widespread in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and may be a viable approach to address challenges with in-person data collection for HIV-related research and monitoring and evaluation. We reviewed the literature to characterize potential benefits and challenges with using SMS for remote data capture, including examples from HIV and sexual and reproductive health. Recent Findings In our review, we found that studies that have used SMS to capture sensitive, self-reported data found this was an acceptable and feasible strategy, and may reduce social desirability bias of self-reported data; but studies are limited. Shared phones and privacy concerns have been described as challenges, but can be addressed with enhanced security features. Response rates to SMS surveys varied significantly by topic, population, and setting. Summary SMS may improve generalizability and precision of health and behavior data for HIV in research and programs, but use in LMICs is limited. SMS systems should be carefully designed to overcome potential implementation hurdles. Keywords SMS . Text messages . Mobile phone . Remote data collection . HIV . Sexual and reproductive health
Introduction Digital approaches to public health problems, including mobile and web applications, short message system (SMS), and tablet and other computer-assisted devices, are becoming commonplace. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), mobile health (mHealth) technology has been recognized as a powerful tool to improve HIV outcomes and care delivery. Globally, over 5 billion people have access to mobile phones; and coverage, acceptability of technology, and familiarity with use are anticipated to only increase over time [1]. Global funding agencies are making strategic investments in This article is part of the Topical Collection on eHealth and HIV * Alison L. Drake [email protected] 1
Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 3980 14th Ave NE, WU Box 351620, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
2
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 3980 14th Ave NE, UW Box 351619, Seattle, WA, USA
3
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
mobile technology approaches that provide innovative solutions to these problems, including improving HIV prevention, care, and treatment [2–5]. Despite the potential for technology to propel global HIV initiatives, there is substantial variability in the quality, fidelity, and implementation of strategies using mobile technology. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends use of mHealth technologies to strengthen health syste
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