Perception of receiving SMS based health messages among hypertensive individuals in urban slums.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension rates are increasing in India, and prior research has not explored the perception of using mobile based SMS among urban hypertensive individuals living in slum settings in India.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the perception of receiving SMS based health messages among hypertensive individuals in urban slums.


METHODS
A cross sectional study was conducted during the period of December 2013 in an urban slum setting of South Delhi, New Delhi, India. Eligible study participants included: 45 individuals aged 30 years and above, with confirmed diagnosis of high blood pressure, owned a mobile phone/landline and were willing to participate.


RESULTS
Results of our study showed participants (n= 45) had an average age of 48 years (SD = 12), mostly female (64%, n= 29), and currently married (80%, n= 36). Their most common perceived hypertension risk factors included: worry/anxiety/stress (84%, n= 38), and high fat diet (68%, n= 30). Mobile calls were the most preferred mode of receiving lifestyle counseling among study participants (71%, n= 32). Majority preferred to receive counseling in Hindi language (67%, n= 30), and more than half were willing to pay for these services (60%, n= 27).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest the need for innovations that utilize basic phone platforms, mobile calling feature, and language tailored interventions.
Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society, New Delhi, India.
Vikas
V
Mudgapalli
Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society, New Delhi, India.
Swati
S
Sharan
City University of New York School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
Chioma
C
Amadi
City University of New York School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
Ashish
A
Joshi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040421:Cell Phone; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013689:Telephone
SMS; hypertension; lifestyle; mobile phone; urban poor