Text reminders to help Ugandan girls complete the HPV vaccine series
SEARCH: SMS Electronic Adolescent Reminders for Completion of HPV vaccination- Uganda
This project sends SMS reminders to preteens and adolescents in Kampala, Uganda so they complete all recommended HPV vaccine doses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11383408 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your child would receive text-message reminders about when and where to get each HPV vaccine dose so you don't miss follow-up visits. The team is working with three Kampala health centers, their linked schools, and community immunization sites to send messages to adolescents and caregivers. Messages are meant to address common problems like school absenteeism on vaccination days, forgetting clinic appointments, and misunderstandings about the vaccine. The study will follow whether more girls finish the full vaccine series after getting these reminders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Preteen and adolescent girls eligible for Uganda's national HPV vaccination program (and their caregivers) who attend the participating schools or health centers are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Girls without access to a cell phone, those not enrolled at participating schools or health centers, or those who have already finished the vaccine series may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more girls in Kampala could complete the HPV vaccine series, lowering their future risk of cervical cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Text-message reminders have improved vaccine completion in higher-income countries, but this approach has been less tested among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stockwell, Melissa S — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Stockwell, Melissa S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.