The Impact of a Maternal Education Program Through Text Messaging in Rural China: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In recent years, attempts have been made to use mobile phone text messaging (short message service, SMS) to achieve positive results for a range of health issues. Reports on the impact of maternal education programs based on this widely available, inexpensive, and instant communication tool are sparse.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the impact of a maternal education program through text messaging.

Methods

We conducted a cluster randomized trial in a remote region in the Chinese province of Hunan between October 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. We used county as the unit of randomization (a total of 10 counties), with half of the counties randomly allocated to the intervention arm (with maternal education material adapted from the World Health Organiz

SUBMITTER: Xie RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6315224 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature