Effectiveness of a Short Message Service (SMS)-Based Mobile Health Intervention on Routine Childhood Vaccination Uptake In Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Missed and delayed childhood vaccinations remain a challenge in low-resource settings, including Nigeria. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, particularly Short Message Service (SMS) reminders, may offer an affordable and practical way to help caregivers keep children’s vaccinations on schedule. This study assessed the effect of an SMS-based intervention on routine childhood vaccination uptake in Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental, non-randomized, two-group study was conducted among 423 caregivers of children aged 0–23 months from urban and rural wards in Keffi. Caregivers were allocated sequentially to either the SMS group (n = 223), which received scheduled vaccination reminders for 12 weeks, or the comparison group (n = 200), which received routine services without SMS reminders. The study assessed immunization schedule completion, antigen-specific coverage, and dropout rates. Among caregivers in the SMS group, message delivery, engagement, and acceptability were also assessed. Data were analysed using chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The two groups had broadly similar sociodemographic characteristics. Completion of the routine immunization schedule was significantly higher in the SMS group than in the comparison group (78.0% vs. 42.5%; p < 0.001). Coverage was higher in the SMS group for all antigens assessed, with statistically significant differences for OPV3, Penta-3, PCV3, and measles-containing vaccine, but not for BCG. Dropout in the SMS group declined from 22.1% at baseline to 6.4% at endline (p < 0.001), whereas dropout in the comparison group changed only slightly, from 20.5% to 18.9%. Of all SMS reminders sent, 91.9% were successfully delivered, and 87.0% of caregivers reported that the reminders helped them keep their children’s vaccinations on schedule. SMS reminders were associated with higher routine childhood vaccination completion and lower dropout rates compared with routine care alone. Integrating SMS reminders into routine immunization services may help improve vaccination uptake in similar low-resource settings.

mHealth, SMS reminders, childhood immunization, vaccination uptake, Nigeria

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