SynthesisSystematic reviews2019
Effect of mobile text message reminders on routine childhood vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Systematic reviews, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Estimating the effects of interventions on increasing vaccination: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ global health · 2025Pooled it
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of strategies to promote vaccination uptake.Nature human behaviour · 2024Pooled it
- SMS-based interventions for improving child and adolescent vaccine coverage and timeliness: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The effect of mHealth on childhood vaccination in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Interventions for improving coverage of childhood immunisation in low- and middle-income countries.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Acceptability of mobile-phone reminders for routine childhood vaccination appointments in Nigeria - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC health services research · 2021Pooled it
- Short message service (SMS) reminders for childhood immunisation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ global health · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Design of an Automated Mobile Phone-Based Reminder and Incentive System: Application in a Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve the Timeliness of Childhood Vaccinations in Tanzania.JMIR formative research · 2025Trial
- Effect of text message reminders to improve paediatric immunisation rates: a randomised controlled quality improvement project.BMJ quality & safety · 2025Trial
- A behaviourally informed chatbot increases vaccination rates in Argentina more than a one-way reminder.Nature human behaviour · 2024Trial
- Effect of Mobile Phone Text Message Reminders on the Completion and Timely Receipt of Routine Childhood Vaccinations: Superiority Randomized Controlled Trial in Northwest Ethiopia.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Trial
- A Pilot mHealth Text Messaging Program Targeting Parents During the First 2000 Days: Nonrandomized Repeat Cross-Sectional Analysis to Evaluate Feasibility, Engagement, Acceptability, and Potential Effectiveness.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Article
- Acceptability and Effectiveness of Text Message Reminders to Improve Patient Attendance During the Sociopolitical Crisis in Haiti: Telephone-Based Survey.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- The AuTOMATIC trial: a multicentre digitally-automated, Bayesian, adaptive, parallel, factorial randomised controlled trial of SMS reminders for childhood vaccination.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2026Article
- Exploring supplemental immunization strategies to reach zero-dose children in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.Therapeutic advances in vaccines and immunotherapy · 2026Article
- Effect of mHealth on Postpartum Family Planning and Its Associated Factors Among Women in South Ethiopia: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of a Smartphone App to Increase Pretransplant Vaccine Rates: Usability Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Coverage, timeliness of measles immunisation and its predictors in Pakistan: an analysis of 6.2 million children enrolled in the Provincial Electronic Immunisation Registry.BMJ global health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe World Health Organization estimates that 29% of under-five mortality could be prevented with existing vaccines. However, non-consistent attendance for immunization appointments remains a global challenge to healthcare providers. Thus, innovative strategies are required to reach the last mile where technology could be effectively utilized to achieve better compliance with children immunization schedules. Therefore, the aim of the review was to systematically collect and summarize the available evidence on the effectiveness of text message reminders on childhood vaccination.
methodsThis review was conducted according to a priori published protocol on PROSPERO. A systematic literature search of databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane/Wiley library, and Science direct) was conducted. Eligibility and risk of bias assessments were performed independently by two reviewers. PRISMA flow diagrams were used to summarize the study selection process. Taking into account the level of heterogeneity, a random effects model was used and risk ratios with their 95% CI were used to present the pooled estimates. To investigate the sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis were also considered. In this review, publication bias was assessed statistically using Harbord test.
resultsA total of 1771 articles were searched. Out of those 1771 articles, 558 duplicated articles were removed. About 1213 articles were further screened, and finally, ten articles met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that there is a significant effect of text message reminders on childhood vaccination coverage (RR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.05-1.17) with a moderate level of heterogeneity (I
conclusionThis review highlights the potential benefits of incorporating mobile text message reminders into the standard management of childhood immunizations, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The frequency and timing of the text message reminders are also crucial in determining the effectiveness of text message reminders. Hence, mHealth interventions deserve more attention as a potential innovation to improve healthcare programs. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42017074230.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.