Objectives. To evaluate whether text-messaging programs can improve reproductive
health among adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries.
Methods. We conducted a cluster–randomized controlled trial among 756 female
students aged 14 to 24 years in Accra, Ghana, in 2014. We randomized 38 schools to
unidirectional intervention (n=12), interactive intervention (n=12), and control (n=14).
The unidirectional intervention sent participants text messages with reproductive health
information. The interactive intervention engaged adolescents in text-messaging
reproductive health quiz games. The primary study outcome was reproductive health
knowledge at 3 and 15 months. Additional outcomes included self-reported pregnancy and
sexual behavior. Analysis was by intent-to-treat.
Results. From baseline to 3 months, the unidirectional intervention increased
knowledge by 11 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI]=7, 15) and the
interactive intervention by 24 percentage points (95% CI=19, 28), from a control baseline
of 26%. Although we found no changes in reproductive health outcomes overall, both
unidirectional (odds ratio [OR]=0.14; 95% CI=0.03, 0.71) and interactive interventions
(OR=0.15; 95% CI=0.03, 0.86) lowered odds of self-reported pregnancy for sexually active
participants. Conclusions. Text-messaging programs can lead to large improvements in
reproductive health knowledge and have the potential to lower pregnancy risk for sexually
active adolescent girls.