To assess the effects of behaviourally informed short message service (SMS) reminders on demand for human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation.

Individually randomised, five-group, controlled parallel trial.

A country-wide trial in Georgia.

55 176 girls aged 10–12, the entire population of unvaccinated girls of this age in the country, for whom there existed caregiver contact details.

Girls were randomised into five arms (four with n=11 035, with one n=11 036). Caregivers of the girls in four of the arms (treatment groups) were sent different versions of an SMS reminder (SMSR), reminding them that the girl was due to receive the HPV vaccine. The control group was sent no SMSR.

The primary outcome was a girl’s HPV vaccination status at the end of the trial.

Girls and their caregivers were blinded to group assignment.

The number of participants analysed in the four treatment groups was 10,784, 10,802, 10,794 and 10,820, with 10 828 analysed in the control group.

Each of the SMSRs was more effective than the control (no reminder) in encouraging HPV vaccination. Girls whose caregiver(s) were sent version 3 had 65% greater odds of receiving the vaccine relative to the control group (OR=1.65; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.97). Among girls whose caregivers received version 1, version 2 and version 4 of the SMS, the odds of receiving the HPV vaccine were respectively 42% (OR=1.42; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.70), 34% (OR=1.34; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.61) and 35% (OR=1.35; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.62) higher compared with the girls in the control arm.

We find a positive and statistically significant effect for each version of the SMSR, relative to the control condition.

NCT05536674.

To assess the prevalence of primary teeth extraction and associated factors among children under 5 years old living in Adea Berga Woreda, West Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia.

A community-based cross-sectional study using interviewer-administered questionnaire.

A total of 542 caregivers of under-five children participated in the study, which was conducted in Adea Berga Woreda, West Shewa, Oromia, Ethiopia, from 1 to 30 July 2024.

Prevalence of primary teeth extraction among under-five children.

Of the 550 study participants, 542 responded, yielding a response rate of 98.5%. The prevalence of primary teeth extraction was 14.02%. Factors significantly associated with primary tooth extraction included residence (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.33; 95% CI 1.27 to 4.28), having information about scientific solutions for teething symptoms (AOR 2.10; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.79), a history of traditional medicine use (AOR 5.68; 95% CI 3.06 to 10.55), and the primary teeth extraction is traditional practice in the community (AOR 3.79; 95% CI 2.06 to 6.97).

Primary teeth extraction is a significant public health issue in the study area. Living in rural areas, lacking information about scientific treatments for teething symptoms, the traditional practice of primary teeth extraction and a history of using traditional medicines were identified as predictors of primary tooth extraction.