Reporting failure of text message delivery in the SMS4dads program – technical report

The shift from traditional face-to-face health and parenting interventions to mobile- and text-based digital formats, such as Short Message Service (SMS), has been rapid. SMS programs remove the need for travel and the constraints of fixed delivery times, enabling greater access for geographically dispersed participants. This is particularly beneficial in rural and remote areas, where healthcare services are often limited due to geographic spread, lower population density, inadequate infrastructure, and higher healthcare delivery costs. The SMS4dads program has demonstrated such benefits, with equivalent levels of engagement among rural and urban fathers.