Participant experiences with a text message and contingency management intervention for alcohol use during pregnancy and lactation in Cape Town, South Africa

TL;DR

A study in South Africa explored how pregnant and lactating women experienced a text message and incentive program to reduce alcohol use, finding it helpful but needing improvements.

Contribution

The study provides novel insights into the effectiveness and user perceptions of a combined text message and contingency management intervention in a resource-limited setting.

Findings

Participants reported reduced alcohol consumption and valued financial incentives and health-promoting messages.

Logistical barriers and the need for expanded support services were identified as challenges.

The intervention showed potential for promoting health behavior change in pregnant and lactating women.

Abstract

The Western Cape region of South Africa has one of the highest global rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions. This qualitative study explores pregnant and lactating participants’ perceptions and experiences of a text message and contingency management (CM) intervention.

The study involved post-intervention interviews with 10 pregnant participants and 10 post-partum lactating participants. Coding and a thematic analysis approach were applied to the collected data using NVivo 12.

Four main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) program experiences; (2) intervention components; (3) health behavior change; and (4) recommendations for program improvements. The participants valued financial incentives and health-promoting text messages, noting reduced alcohol consumption.

The findings highlighted the potential benefits of the intervention in improving individuals’ health behaviors. However, logistical barriers and the need for expanded support services were identified, emphasizing the importance of refining intervention strategies in resource-limited settings.