Improving Follow-up After Treatment for Suspicious Cervical Lesions in Ethiopian Women Using Nurse Calls, Home Visits, and SMS Reminders

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of three different reminder interventions in improving follow-up adherence among women treated for suspicious cervical lesions in primary healthcare settings in Ethiopia. The study focuses on women who have undergone treatment after positive VIA screening and compares interventions in both HIV-negative and HIV-positive groups. The trial is a pragmatic randomized controlled study led by Addis Ababa University. The interventions being studied include structured nurse-led telephone call reminders, home visits by health extension workers, and app-based automated SMS text reminders. Each intervention follows a schedule tailored to HIV status for HIV-negative women, reminders start at 4 months post-treatment and continue every 4 months for up to a year for HIV-positive women, reminders begin earlier and are more frequent, occurring every 2 months for 6 months. The control group receives standard care with oral information and a follow-up card. Participants will be monitored for adherence to follow-up recommendations, specifically re-screening using VIA at about one year after treatment 11-13 months. The study involves scheduled contacts by phone, home visits, or SMS reminders depending on the group assigned. Researchers will measure the proportion of women who adhere to recommended follow-up appointments. The study runs from November 2024 through December 2025 and includes women aged 25 to 49 years, with different age criteria based on HIV status.

Key Interventions to Improve the Follow-up Adherence Post Cervical Precancerous Lesion Treatment in Ethiopia