Evaluation of Cell Phone for Life for Cell-Life

This 47-page document presents a baseline evaluation conducted as part of the pilot Cell Phone for Life project, implemented by Cell-Life, Soul City, and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). The project involves the direct use of cell phones to provide information to people who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The study was designed to evaluate how the new pilot service is perceived by organisations running it, those receiving the messages, and those close to the recipients who may be affected. Three forms of information transmitted by the service are taken into account: organisational information distributed to members; treatment literature; and prevention and general information on HIV. Two methodologies were used, namely qualitative interviews and a survey. The evaluation looks primarily at responses from TAC, as research on Soul City was delayed.

The evaluation found that the primary and overriding role of Cell Phone for Life at TAC is information dispersal at multiple levels, from simple to detailed, in response to campaigns, programmes, context, and new information appearing. The focal point for information was on calling people for meetings and campaign activities. Two-way communications was also raised as important. MXit (a free instant messaging application developed by MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa that runs on multiple mobile and computing platforms) was seen mainly as a potential tool for the principal organisers in TAC by allowing them to have virtual meetings or consult with one another on an ongoing basis. The principle advantage most respondents mentioned was that the Cell Phone for Life would save them time and money, as they can send one mass email instead of phoning or visiting each of their members individually.

A number of potential problems and initial limitations were also identified by respondents. The most important of these was the cost to members to maintain the system. Even the minimum cost was felt to be too high for many, so the authors of this study say that there were requests to offer bulk short messaging service (SMS) packages or a limited number of free SMSs to each member. Related to this issue was access to phones and especially phones with the required technology to perform all the functions of the Cell Phone for Life. Concerns raised by a few included the potential for misuse or private use of SMSs allocated by Cell-Life or TAC. Concerns were also raised that there needed to be checks that accurate information was sent out in the mass mailings. However, overall, very few respondents felt there would be a negative impact from the introduction of the project.

With regard to the information shared via the system, the report divides responses into two sections: general information, which entails brief messages sent out generally to members and others in the network and detailed, and directed information. A range of general information was suggested to be sent out on a regular basis. This included basic HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) information, as well as information on stigma, issues around blood transmission and prevention, and post-exposure prophylaxis. Respondents felt that the focus should not only be on HIV but that it should also include other health information such as on healthy lifestyles, pregnancy prevention, and warnings about gender-based violence and child abuse. It was also felt to be an important base for the correction of errors, rumours, conspiracy theories, and misinformation about HIV. One particular concern was to make sure that the design of messages occurs so that information goes out appropriately. As far as more detailed information goes, respondents requested detailed information on nutrition, anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment information (including ARV interactions with alcohol), the importance of adherence, how to access services, grants, and cooking tips.

The report concludes that Cell Phone for Life constitutes a new and exciting approach to information dispersal that is instant and can be widely dispersed directly into people's hands. The idea for this service is to facilitate responses from all people and to grow and develop over time. The report states that it should be able to respond to changing conditions and reflect these contexts in both the content of messages and the distribution channels used.

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