Table 2 Crude outcomes by study group

Days from abnormal laboratory result to clinic return, median (IQR)

33 (11 – 49)

6 (3 – 16)

<0.001

4 (2 – 13)

11 (4 – 18)

6 (3 – 15)

Proportion returned within 14 days of abnormal result (n, %)

12/45 (27)

93/138 (67)

<0.001

36/46 (78)

28/49 (57)

29 /43(67)

Proportion returned within 28 days of abnormal result (n, %)

22/45 (49)

128/138 (93)

<0.001

43/46 (94)

43/49 (89)

42/43 (98)

Proportion returned before scheduled visit (n, %)

11/45 (24)

96/137 (70)

<0.001

33/46 (72)

34/49 (69)

29 /42 (69)

Time to ART initiation (ART-naïve only)

Pre-intervention period (No SMS message)

Intervention period (SMS + transportation reimbursement)

P-value*

Direct SMS message group

PIN SMS message group

Coded SMS message group

(n = 45)

(n = 138)

(n = 37)

(n = 39)

(n = 34)

Days from abnormal laboratory result to ART initiation, median (IQR)

47 (11 – 77)

13 (5 – 22)

<0.001

8 (3 – 25)

15 (7 – 24)

15 (4 – 19)

Participants initiating ART within 14 days of abnormal result (n, %)

7/26 (27)

57/110 (52)

0.06

24 (62)

17 (46)

16 (47)

Participants initiating ART within 28 days of abnormal result (n, %)

8/26 (31)

89/110 (81%)

<0.001

30/39 (77)

30/37 (81)

29/34 (85)