ArticleBMC health services research2019
The addition of mobile SMS effectively improves dengue prevention practices in community: an implementation study in Nepal.
Article in BMC health services research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Innovative technologies to address neglected tropical diseases in African settings with persistent sociopolitical instability.Nature communications · 2024Pooled it
- Using a digital health tool to strengthen community engagement in arboviral disease prevention: an implementation study in Colombia.BMC public health · 2026Trial
- Barriers and facilitators to dengue prevention strategies in Bangladesh: a scoping review with comparative analysis of other dengue-prone regions.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- From Bites to Bytes: Evaluating User Engagement and Mosquito Bite Exposure Patterns with the Bite Diary Smartphone Application.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2025Article
- Analysis of factors influencing dengue prevention KAP among urban residents in Guangzhou and evaluation of mHealth intervention effects.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Qualitative Evaluation of mHealth Implementation for Infectious Disease Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Narrative Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Review
- Feasibility of NepaDengue mobile application for dengue prevention and control: user and stakeholder perspectives in Nepal.BMJ public health · 2024Article
- WhatsApp-based intervention in urban Colombia to support the prevention of arboviral diseases: a feasibility study.Pathogens and global health · 2024Article
- Effectiveness of a Nursing Educational Intervention in Adults to Promote Control Behaviors Against Dengue: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2024Article
- Texting in a crisis-using SMS for information and emotional support during COVID-19: A mixed methods research study.Frontiers in sociology · 2022Article
- Challenges and opportunities for implementing digital health interventions in Nepal: A rapid review.Frontiers in digital health · 2022Review
- The use of mobile phones for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases: a scoping review.BMC public health · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDengue is an emerging vector disease with frequent outbreaks in Nepal that pose a major threat to public health. Dengue control activities are mostly outbreak driven, and still lack systematic interventions while most people have poor health-related knowledge and practices. Mobile Short Message Service (SMS) represents a low-cost health promotion intervention that can enhance the dengue prevention knowledge and practices of the affected communities. This study aimed to explore the acceptability, appropriateness, and effectiveness of mobile SMS intervention in improving dengue control practices.
methodsThis study was an implementation research that used mixed-methods design with intervention. A total of 300 households were divided into three groups, i.e. one control group, one dengue prevention leaflet (DPL) only intervention group and one DPL with mobile SMS intervention group (DPL + SMS). We used a structured questionnaire to collect information regarding participants' knowledge and practice of dengue prevention. We conducted in-depth interviews with key informants to measure acceptability and appropriateness of intervention. Mean difference with standard deviation (SD), one-way ANOVA, paired t-test and regression analyses were used to assess the effectiveness of the interventions. Thematic analysis was used to assess the acceptability, and appropriateness as well as barriers and enablers of the intervention.
resultsThe DPL + SMS intervention produced significantly higher mean knowledge difference (32.7 ± 13.7 SD vs. 13.3 ± 8.8 SD) and mean practice difference (27.9 ± 11.4 SD vs 4.9 ± 5.4 SD) compared to the DPL only group (p = 0.000). Multivariate analysis showed that the DPL + SMS intervention was effective to increase knowledge by 28.6 points and practice by 28.1 points compared to the control group. The intervention was perceived as acceptable and appropriate by the study participants and key stakeholders. Perceived barriers included reaching private network users and poor network in geographically remote areas, while enabling factors included mobile phone penetration, low cost, and shared responsibility.
conclusionsMobile SMS is an effective, acceptable and appropriate health intervention to improve dengue prevention practices in communities. This intervention can be adopted as a promising tool for health education against dengue and other diseases.
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