The Impact of Text Message Quiz Programmes in Uganda

October 2010

Effects on health education and prevention

In 2009 and 2010, TextToChange (TTC) in collaboration with local partners performed two workplace programmes in Uganda using SMS quizzes for health education. In total about 2,500 employees or their relatives/acquaintances participated in the quizzes.

Participants were approached through an introductory SMS asking if they would like to participate in the quiz. Upon acceptance this was followed by a number of questions related to health education and disease prevention.

Drawing on their experience in the analysis and evaluation of data, KIT Biomedical Research and the University of Utrecht are currently collaborating with TTC in order to retrospectively analyze the data that was gathered in web-based databases. 

The data review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SMS quizzes. The main outcome parameters measured in the study are:

• Knowledge gain
• Effects on prevention of HIV-transmission
• Texting behavior of participants.

Results are expected in the first half of 2011.

Researchers: A.M. de Lepper*, C. Tuijn**, L. Oskam**, H. van Beijma***, B. Hoeffman***
For more information, please contact Coosje Tuijn.

* Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands
** Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*** TextToChange (TTC), the Netherlands, Uganda