Development Of A Mobile Phone Service To Increase Women Awareness About Cervical Cancer

ABSTRACT

The study was aimed at developing a mobile phone service (SMS based) to be used to raise awareness among women about cervical cancer in United Republic of Tanzania. The study investigated and analyzed factors that hinder the use and implementation of mobile phone service to increase women awareness about cervical cancer. Furthermore, the study determines content that should be included in a mobile phone service to increase awareness about cervical cancer.

The designed SMS based facility prototype will assist in increasing awareness about cervical cancer. The study involved 100 respondents. To meet the objectives, structured interviews and questionnaires were used for data gathering.

The developed SMS facility is a one way communication system. The study recommends this work to be extended further to be a two way SMS based communication type in order to enable clients (subscribers) and health officers to communicate to and from.

Findings of the study reveal that ignorance is the major factor that hinders the use of a mobile phone service for knowledge delivery. Respondents reported that cost is no longer a major problem that hinders their use of mobile phones for knowledge delivery. Also the study revealed that the contents for the mobile phone service for knowledge delivery should include the messages about Human Papilomma Virus vaccine, screening test, prevention issues, food diets, risk factors for cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening centers or locations.