The Effect Of Mobile Health Communication Intervention On Female Teachers’ Knowledge On Cervical Cancer And Cervical Screening Uptake In Accra Metropolis
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Date
2022-08
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University Of Ghana
Abstract
Background:
Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women. Without significant intervention, the global burden is expected to increase to nearly 700,000 cases and 400,000 deaths by 2030, Ninety percent of these occur in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana.
Mobile health is an emerging technology around the world that can be effective in improving knowledge on cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening uptake. Because mobile phone adoption is growing at an exponential rate in low- and middle-income nations, employing mobile phones to promote cervical cancer services might reach a larger number of individuals in resource-constrained settings than traditional healthcare delivery methods.
Objective: This study sought to assess the effect of mhealth communication intervention on female teachers’ knowledge on cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening uptake.
Methodology: The study employed a cluster randomized design with baseline and endline stages. Multistage cluster randomized sampling was used to select 237 teachers from 61 private and government schools in 4 sub-districts in Accra metropolis. Two cross sectional surveys were carried out at baseline and endline across all intervention arms with control. SMS only (40), WhatsApp (50), SMS+WhatsApp (80) and Control ( 67). Questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Modified ordinary least square regression(OLS) with Difference in Difference analysis and robust standard error were used to determine the effect of the mhealth communication intervention on cervical cancer knowledge and cervical screening uptake
Results: The study assessed the effectiveness of WhatsApp only, SMS only, and WhatsApp + SMS with control on knowledge of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening uptake. The results showed that, receiving at least one intervention, increased knowledge score on cervical cancer and overall knowledge of cervical screening by 11.5% and 19% respectively(p<0.001). Among the three interventions, WhatsApp text yielded the largest improvement on knowledge. It
increased knowledge on cervical cancer by 17.34% (p<0.001), Knowledge on risk factors by 18.26% (p<0.001) and overall knowledge by 17.53% (p<0.001) and the three interventions had a significant effect on knowledge on cervical cancer but did not have significant effect on cervical screening uptake
Conclusion
This study concludes that SMS and WhatsApp interventions had an impact on knowledge of risk factors of cervical cancer and general knowledge of cervical cancer. However, WhatsApp was the most effective in terms of raising awareness on cervical cancer
Description
PhD. Public Health
Keywords
Female Teachers, Cervical Cancer, Accra Metropolis, Mobile Health Communication