title: An SMS-based HIV/AIDS education and awareness model for rural areas in Papua New Guinea.
abstract: Access to basic healthcare in many parts of Papua New Guinea (PNG) remains a challenge partly because the majority of the population is thinly scattered across a geographically rugged country. The major health problems in PNG pertain to malaria, tuberculosis and diarrheal diseases while HIV has reached epidemic levels. The proliferation of the mobile phone technology in PNG has been unprecedented since the introduction of competition in the sector in July 2007. Users in rural areas now access the mobile phone signal making it their preferred form of modern communications medium. This paper introduces an SMS-based HIV/AIDS education, awareness and information dissemination model for a predominantly rural-based PNG society.
authors.affiliation: Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea. pengtel@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Joseph Kim
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Suwamaru
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001364:Awareness; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods; D060145:Text Messaging
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents