Usability of short message service based alert warning system in increasing disaster awareness and emergency preparedness. case study: Kimisagara sector Nyarugenge district

Abstract

Background: Rwanda is striving toward an efficient early warning system before, during and after a disaster (Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, 2012). The use of SMS to end-users may help to achieve this goal. Short Message Service (SMS) is a text messaging service component of mobile phone communication systems. SMS has the potential to be an effective community messaging system, which is necessary for a synchronized information exchange between the authorities and the citizens particularly during emergencies and in period of disaster. Problem statement :Although The government of Rwanda, has put in place the early warning systems to alert people about the disaster, little is currently known about the influence of early warning systems to households’ decisions related to responding and limiting damages when disaster are closer to happening. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the usability of SMS technology in increasing the population’s awareness, preparedness and adaptation to disasters in Rwanda, especially in Kimisagara sector of Nyarugenge District. The specific objectives were to investigate about the experience of disaster in surveyed households; to assess the population’s awareness of the existing disaster warning system and the knowledge of service contact number, and finally to assess SMS usability for disaster preparedness in Kimisagara sector of the city of Kigali. Methodology: a descriptive cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in Kimisagara Sector of Nyarugenege District. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire, while qualitative data were obtained using semi-structured interview. Quantitative data were entered and analysed in SPSS Version 21. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation using chi-square test were used. Qualitative data were summarized using Atlas.ti 5.2, content analysis was performed. Results: Data were collected from 120 heads of households. There were 61 (50.8%) males and 59 (49.2%) females. The overall mean age was 33.7±11.1 years. Most participants (47.5%) had been residing in Kimisagara for three years and more. More than one out of two participants (56.7%) had attained secondary education level. 35% of participants had experienced disasters and 32.5% had ever received disaster early warning SMS from administrative authorities. One out of two participants were aware of the existing disaster iv warning system. Nevertheless, only 31 participants (25.8%) knew the emergency number to text in case of disasters. Nearly 96% owned a mobile phone. Nearly three out of four (74.8%) participants use their mobile phone almost every time. Of the mobile phone owners, 95.7% had ability to read SMS and 63.5% read SMS from Government sometimes. However, a significant number (37.4%) declared the need for additional training to read SMS. Use of SMS was the most preferred way of communication about disasters (56.7%); this preference was most marked among secondary education graduates (p=0.036). Conclusion: The experience of disasters is real among the studied participants. The requirements for SMS disaster early warning are in place; which would make possible the use of SMS in disaster management. The study recommends that SMS be send directly to endusers without intermediate recipients.