A comparative analysis of mothers’ preference for specific type of phone-derived reminders for routine immunization appointments in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Forgotten immunization appointment is a factor associated with low immunization uptake in Nigeria which could be addressed by a reminder-based intervention. Thus, there is a need to identify the type of reminder which would be preferred by the recipients which was the aim of this study conducted in Ilorin, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 363 mothers was conducted at two public-based immunization centers. Responses on willingness to receive text message or call reminders, preferred timing of appointment, and language of communication, willingness to pay, antenatal, and delivery characteristics were obtained via questionnaires. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0 software (IBM Corporation, Virginia, USA). Results: Text messages were preferred by 189 (52.1%) mothers and call by 174 (47.9%) mothers. A day prior to the scheduled appointment was the preferred timing by 322 (88.7%) mothers. The local language was preferred by 133 (76.4%) mothers who wanted calls, and 154 (81.5%) mothers who preferred text messages wanted English language. Logistic regression identified the odds of mothers preference for text message compared with calls was eightfold to fivefold among those aged 21–25 and 31–35 years, respectively compared with those aged <21 years, with each P < 0.005. Willingness to pay at most 50 naira for the reminders increased by eightfold among those who preferred text messages compared with calls (odds ratio 8.4; 95% confidence interval 2.8–25.1). Conclusion: Phone-derived reminders are a possible deployable tool for increasing immunization coverage in Nigeria. The optimal timing for sending reminders is the day preceding the appointment. Call reminders are preferred delivered in the local language, whereas English is preferred for text messages.