INCREASING ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND DEMAND FOR CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING SERVICES IN MWANZA, TANZANIA UTILIZING MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Elizabeth Ndakidemi 1 , Peter Masika 1 , Benedicto Luvanda 1 , Doyin Oluwole 2 , Erica Asante 2 , Adetoun Olateju 2 . 1 Tanzania Youth Alliance, 2 Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon. Acknowledgments: The project acknowledges Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, a Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partner, for providing funding and technical assistance through a Secure the Future Grant since the project started in 2014. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortalityinTanzanianwomen.Eighty- percent of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer succumb within five years of diagnosis due to presentation at advanced stages of the disease and limited access to treatment services. Lack of information about the disease resulting in stigmatization is one of the primary barriers for women to access cancer screening and treatment. To reduce this information barrier, Tanzania Youth Alliance (TAYOA) operates a national toll-free helpline and Short Messaging Service (SMS) in partnership with all mobile phone companies operating in Tanzania under the auspices of Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA). Goal Leveraging the widespread reach and rapid development of mobile technology in Tanzania, TAYOA with support from Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon through Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s Secure the Future Grant, seeks to reduce late presentation of cervical cancer in Mwanza Region. By using short messaging services (SMS) to raise knowledge and awareness, the project aims to increase demand for cervical cancer screening in the Region. The project began in 2014 and is ongoing. Background: I. To create awareness about cervical cancer, its effects and the availability of prevention and screening services. II. To create linkages to care and treatment with Bugando Medical Centre and other tertiary hospitals. III. To strengthen cervical cancer screening services and build capacity at the local level. IV. To provide a helpline for psychosocial support and to use SMS platforms as referral channel. Objectives In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) and partners, TAYOA uses free SMS and toll-free helpline services to raise awareness, clear misconceptions, dispel myths, create demand and provide the list of facilities where cervical cancer screening services can be accessed in the Region. The helpline and SMS services have a nationwide coverage. The toll-free helpline can be accessed by dialing 117. To receive text messages on cervical cancer, registered clients text the word SARATANI to 15017. SMS subscription cards are distributed to the population free of charge and the phone numbers of registrants are included in a secure database. Each subscriber receives 20 text messages for a period of 20 days. Methods: Results SMS and Helpline for demand creation Number of subscribers to the SMS service 41,751 Number of text messages sent 843,496 (20 SMS per person – 1 SMS per day) Number of callers to the helpline 22,172 Number of women who had a screening visit as a result of receiving a text message 9, 247 (Confirmed) Conclusion: Mobile phone technology is a low-cost and effective means of increasing awareness, improving knowledge and care-seeking attitudes towards cervical cancer in Tanzania and across the developing world. SMS Cards Distribution SMS Helpline Health Facility
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INCREASING ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND DEMAND FOR CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING SERVICES IN
MWANZA, TANZANIA UTILIZING MOBILE TECHNOLOGYElizabeth Ndakidemi1, Peter Masika1, Benedicto Luvanda1, Doyin Oluwole2, Erica Asante2, Adetoun Olateju2.
1Tanzania Youth Alliance, 2Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon.
Acknowledgments:The project acknowledges Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, a Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partner, for providing funding and technical assistance through a Secure the Future Grant since the project started in 2014.
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in Tanzanian women. Eighty-percent of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer succumb within five years of diagnosis due to presentation at advanced stages of the disease and limited access to treatment
services.Lack of information about the disease resulting in stigmatization is one of the primary barriers for women to access cancer screening and treatment.
To reduce this information barrier,
Tanzania Youth Alliance (TAYOA) operates a national toll-free helpline and Short Messaging Service (SMS) in partnership with all mobile phone companies operating in Tanzania under the auspices of Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA).
Goal Leveraging the widespread reach and rapid development of mobile technology in Tanzania, TAYOA with support from Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon through Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s Secure the Future Grant, seeks to reduce late presentation of cervical cancer in Mwanza Region. By using short messaging services (SMS) to raise knowledge and awareness, the project aims to increase demand for cervical cancer screening in the Region. The project began in 2014 and is ongoing.
Background:
I. To create awareness about cervical cancer, its effects and the availability of prevention and screening services.
II. To create linkages to care and treatment with Bugando Medical Centre and other tertiary hospitals.
III. To strengthen cervical cancer screening services and build capacity at the local level.
IV. To provide a helpline for psychosocial support and to use SMS platforms as referral channel.
Objectives
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) and partners, TAYOA uses free SMS and toll-free helpline services to raise awareness, clear misconceptions, dispel myths, create demand and provide the list of facilities where cervical cancer screening services can be accessed in the Region. The helpline and SMS services have a nationwide coverage.
The toll-free helpline can be accessed by dialing 117. To receive text messages on cervical cancer, registered clients text the word SARATANI to 15017.SMS subscription cards are distributed to the population free of charge and the phone numbers of registrants are included in a secure database. Each subscriber receives 20 text messages for a period of 20 days.
Methods:
Results SMS and Helpline for demand creation
Number of subscribers to the SMS service
41,751
Number of text messages sent 843,496 (20 SMS per person – 1 SMS per day)Number of callers to the helpline 22,172Number of women who had a screening visit as a result of receiving a text message
9, 247 (Confirmed)
Conclusion:Mobile phone technology is a low-cost and effective means of increasing awareness, improving knowledge and care-seeking attitudes towards cervical cancer in Tanzania and across the developing world.
SMS Cards Distribution
SMS
Helpline
HealthFacility
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