TOPIC : A STUDY ON THE USE OF SHORT MESSAGE SERVICES (SMS) IN

HEALTH PROMOTION AMONG THE YOUTH IN CHOGORIA,

THARAKA NITHI COUNTY.
 
NAME : MBAYA CHRISTINE KATHOMI
 
ADM. NO. : DCHH/J-004/17
 
SCHOOL : THIKA SCHOOL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
 
TRAINER : MR BONIFACE
 
SUPERVISOR: MR BONIFACE
 
FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF DIPLOMA IN COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HIV MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION

SMS is a short message that can be sent from a phone to phone, and pushed to the recipient’s
device when sent. The use of short-message service (SMS –or texting) is a main approach
used by mobile-phone based health promotion interventions. SMS allows people to send
short messages (160 characters) to others almost instantly, regardless of time or place (Buhi
et al., 2013; Fjeldsoe et al., 2009). Text-messaging has rapidly become a main form of
communicating via mobile phones (Buhi et al., 2013). Perhaps unsurprisingly, use of SMS is
highest among youth. Some key advantages of SMS include short messages of 160
characters, good interoperability between networks and technologies (GSM and CDMA); it
is low cost and free for the receiver. (Talariax) SMS messages have a number of
characteristics that make them very appropriate for use in a healthcare setting including
direct patient communication, privacy, confidentiality, swift delivery of messages and
receipt of responses, convenient for health providers and patients, provides an opportunity
to improve health knowledge, behaviors, and clinical outcomes, particularly among hard-
to-reach populations. Text messaging is also easy to use and affordable.SMS messaging
technology also allows the dispatching of substantial numbers of messages simultaneously,
so reducing labor expenditure. (Koshy, Car, & Majeed, 2008)
1.1 BACKGROUND

Globally, the use of the communication technologies such as mobile phones and internet continues to
rise (Hung et al., 2013; PewResearch, 2014). Such technologies are providing new ways to
communicate and share information, and continue to develop in ways that are almost
unimaginable. As Jorm et al. (2014) state, “…new devices, which until their development we did not
realize we needed, will continue to be created” (p.104). In response to greater use and familiarity,
health services are increasingly utilizing technology to directly communicate with consumers (e.g.
appointment reminders, regular medication reminders, and test results) and to deliver information
(e.g. through websites and social media) (Free et al., 2013; Thorn, 2014). Although a lack of
literature on the use of such technologies in health promotion reflects that technology-based
approaches are still in their infancy, Gold, Lim, Hellard, Hocking, and Keogh (2010) anticipate that
they will soon become common practice. “As the use of newer communication technologies
continues to exponentially increase, health promotion will inevitably expand out from the ‘old’
media (TV, radio, billboards) and into the ‘new’ (mobile telephones, social networking sites)” (pp.1-
2).
To date, technology-based health promotion initiatives appear to be taking advantage of various
technologies (e.g. computers, internet, mobile phones, handheld devices (i.e. tablets), CD-Roms,
computer kiosks) and the several features they offer (Bull & McFarlane, 2011).
1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The healthcare sector continues to use text messaging to disseminate healthcare

information to a large population of people. There are numerous examples of
Mobile phone based Health interventions, mostly SMS-based, that have been
used to support mothers through safe pregnancy and childbirth and to support
the health of a newborn. However, there is limited evidence of systematic
documentation of how mobile phone SMS has been used to promote health
among the youth to send and receive healthcare information via SMS. (Kannisto
KA, 2014)(Judy Gold, 2008).
This study aims at assessing the use of mobile phone short-message service (SMS) in
promoting the health of youths in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.
1.3. OBJECTIVES

1.3.1 Main Objective

The objective of this study will be to assess the use short-message service (SMS) in
promoting the health of youths in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.
1.3.2 Specific objectives
To identify current structures of sending healthcare promotion messages through
SMS to the youth in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.
To identify factors that influence effectiveness of healthcare messages sent via SMS
among the youth in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.
To investigate the Text based interventions in healthcare promotion among the youth
in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County.
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What is the current structure of sending healthcare promotional messages via SMS
among the youth in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County?
What factors influence the effectiveness of healthcare promotion messages sent via
SMS among the youth in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County?
What are the Text based interventions in healthcare promotion among the youth in
Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County?
1.5. JUSTIFICATION

SMS is a potentially powerful tool because it is widely available, inexpensive, and

instant. SMS-based health promotion approaches have been found to be effective
in encouraging a wide range of positive health behaviors, including sexual
health, smoking cessation, weight-loss, nutrition, and mental health (Blackburn
& Blatnik, 2013; Fjeldsoe et al., 2009; Hebden et al., 2013; Hingle, 2011; Lim et
al., 2012; Rodgers et al., 2005; Whittaker et al., 2012). Reviews have found that
SMS interventions have been delivered through either SMS alone, SMS and
internet, or SMS, internet, or one other mode (e.g. paper diary, clinic visits,
phone calls).
1.6. SCOPE, LIMITATIONS AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

1.6.1 Scope
The research will be conducted within Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County
1.6.2 Limitations of the study
Some health officials may hesitate to provide useful information on the use of short-message
service (SMS) in promoting the health of youths in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County and this
problem will be overcome by creating good rapport with them.
Time may also be a limiting factor since hospitals have their own tight schedules.
The study may also be limited by the respondents’ unwillingness and cooperation to give answers
to the questionnaires and this problem will be overcome by assuring them of confidentiality.
1.6.3 Delimitations of the study
The research will concentrate only on the youths within Chogoria,Tharaka Nithi County and
leave out other youths in other parts of Tharaka Nithi since this could inflate the cost of the
overall study.
1.8 CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

Nearly 68% of adults are obese or overweight contributing to chronic diseases in the world, mental health
problems and disabilities. The dramatic increase in the rate of obesity is as a result of calorie intake, eating
nutrient poor food and reduction in physical activities. Weight loss interventions utilizing a reduced-energy
diet and exercise are associated with effective weight loss that plateaus at approximately 6 months. Despite
the effectiveness of this intervention, people continue to be overweight and obese. Even though we may
understand how people loss weight, we must continue to develop effective intervention that people will use
and adopt.
Mobile devices such as mobile phones have emerged as a mode of intervention delivery to help people improve
their health, particularly in relation to weight loss. Using mobile phones as medium to deliver weight loss
intervention has a distinct advantages in that it reaches across geographic and economic boundaries, can be
delivered directly to people and it’s easy to use. Furthermore short message service (sms) also known as text
messaging, has grown in popularity as a way to deliver health information owing to its simplicity, low cost
and ability to serve as a cue to action. SMS is a messaging service of up 160 characters in length to and
from fixed line and mobile phone devices. SMS is the most widely used data application in the world with
over 2.4 billion users; twice the number of people who use the internet uses SMS. Bauer et al 2010(23)
Many commercial weight-loss programs have adopted SMS as a tool to help client in their weight loss. A quick
internet search reveals many online text-based weight loss tools including many ‘apps’’ for smart phones
that message users about their diet and exercise
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1. Introduction
The purpose of this study will be to assess the use short-message service (SMS) in
promoting the health of youths in Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County. This chapter
gives a comprehensive account of the research methodology that will be used by
the researcher to address the research problem. The geographical setting where
the study will take place, research design and the targeted population will be
identified here, as well as the research sample. The research instruments to be
utilized to gather research data together with the techniques to be applied to
preserve reliability and validity of the research instruments, sampling technique
and the various ethical issues to be taken into consideration.
3.3. SAMPLING

Sample Size; sample is a subset of a population. The sample size of the respondent’s students was calculated
using the fishers formula. (Ellen, 2012)
N=z2×p×q
d2
 
Where:
N= sample size
P= population size
q= 1-P
d= the level of statistical significant set
N= 1.962×0.05×0.95
0.052
=73 respondents
Sample size for the study will be73 respondents.
 APPENDIX I: BUDGET

ITEM COST IN KSH

Stationary 350

Transport 1000

Binding 400

Typing and printing 2100

Flash disk 1GB 600

Internet services 800

Miscellaneous 1000

Grand total 6250

APPENDIX II: WORK PLAN
TIME ACTIVITY

June-July 2018 Proposal Writing

July 2018 Proposal Presentation

August-Sept. 2018 Data Collection and Analysis

October 2018 Report Writing

November 2018 Report Presentation

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