Using SMS for HIV/AIDS education and to expand the use of HIV testing and counselling services at the AIDS Information Centre (AIC) Uganda

Type Working Paper - M4D 2010
Title Using SMS for HIV/AIDS education and to expand the use of HIV testing and counselling services at the AIDS Information Centre (AIC) Uganda
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2010
Page numbers 40
URL http://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:357565/FULLTEXT01#page=43
Abstract
t: Mobile phone users are adopting text messaging (SMS) to completelynew ends never envisaged before. The SMS now constitute a feasible tool thatconnects users, allowing for the exchange of vital information and expertopinions in near real-time. The SMS provides a trusted resource for askingtime-sensitive questions, while providing an anonymous forum for gaininginsights on potentially sensitive subjects. In this article, we present aninnovative approach aimed at scaling up HIV/AIDS awareness via mobilephone SMS desired at encouraging participants to access HIV Counsellingand Testing (HCT). Our study, which was deemed ‘an enormous successstory’, reached over 7000 people in the Lira district for HIV/AIDS educationvia SMS, the outcome of which saw a high acceptance rate of the SMS surveyand increase in the number of people accessing HCT.Key words: Mobile phone, Text Messages (SMS),

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