FHI & Text to ChangeBuilding an IT Partnership in a World of Change

Where we began…

• EC research in Ghana and Kenya identified:• Lack of knowledge around contraceptive methods• High rate of mobile phone ownership

What if we created a means of educating women and men about contraception using mobile phones?

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First Steps – m4RH Concept

1. Idea originated from research with contraceptive users in East and West Africa

2. Concept Testing was conducted with family planning users in focus groups and individual interviews

3. Message Development:1. m4RH: Based on WHO and Country Norms, Expert Review2. ECINFO: Theory-driven role model stories

4. Message Testing was conducted with health clinic clients and EC users5. Usability Testing helped with refining system interaction and navigation

Technology Options

• Web-based SMS service (e.g. Clickatell) • Desired more control over the system

• Capability within FHI• First project of its kind at FHI; not a good business case• Investigated relationships with Net Hope,

Nokia, Cisco, etc.• Direct collaboration with mobile provider – Safaricom• Off-the-shelf options• MobileActive.org comparison matrix• FrontlineSMS

FrontLine SMS

• I <3 frontline• User-friendly interface• Great for initial demonstrations and system testing• Easily deployable in the field• Concerns regarding reliability

• Short code or Phone Number?• Phone number seems too ‘clunky’• Short code is more user friendly, easy to remember • Short code requires a lot of work and likely a 3rd party

We need a technical partner!!

…And Then There Were Three

• Sex:Tech 2009 solicitation for partners• Narrowed options to Frontline SMS, Text to Change,

and Voxiva• Key decision points for the system:• Flexibility• Reliability• Sustainability

• Selected TTC as official partner for m4RH in 2009

Roles

FHI• Develop and test system content• Design research process • System usability testing (with )

TTC• Programming• Input on design and proposed algorithm• Data monitoring

Other Considerations

• Flexibility• Ability to refine ‘on demand’• Extremely important, especially for a new system.

• Quality control• Who is checking the system and data?

• Cultural considerations• Having a partner in region is extremely helpful

• IT versus Health Technology• TTC is knowledgeable in Public Health (as is Voxiva), which

has made communication and collaboration easy

The BIG Considerations

• Sustainability• Is the system flexible enough to support

“in-a-box” packaging?• If not, where will the separation be made and

how will the technical piece be incorporated?• Cost• If you are able to get to a packaged system how

much will it cost to support it?• If you aren’t delivering a packaged system, how much will it

cost to implement?• Management costs, short code, identification of partner, etc.

What We’ve Learned

• Having a good IT partner is critical• Finding a partner can be a daunting process• When all else fails, just ask!

• Location, location, location• Regional expertise is a benefit

• Be clear in expectations• Upfront and long-range costs