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Drabarek D, Trinh-Hoang D, Yapa M, Dang TT, Vu HD, Nguyen TA, Do TT, Nguyen BH, Vu DH, Fox GJ, Bernays S. Examining the challenges in sustaining user engagement with a mobile app to enhance multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) care in Vietnam and its implications for implementing person-centred mHealth interventions. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2025; 5:e0004454. [PMID: 40238739 PMCID: PMC12002538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025]
Abstract
Digital health technologies, especially mobile application (mHealth), offer great potential for enhancing person-centred care and managing MDR-TB. The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure in Vietnam presents a valuable opportunity for such interventions. This qualitative study examines user experiences to explain reported reduction in engagement with (i.e. use of) a smartphone app which is being trialed to improve early detection and management of adverse events (AEs) among MDR-TB patients in Vietnam (VSMART trial). We conducted 37 in-depth interviews with patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) and thematically analyzed the data. Initially, patients were motivated to use the app seeing it as a promise of the provision of 'good care' from trusted healthcare workers, and over-estimated its functional capacity. However, as patients realized its functional limitations for AE reporting and management they reverted to communicating with HCWs through existing communication channels. While the app empowered patients to communicate with HCWs for AE reporting, it inadvertently increased HCWs' workloads which became difficult to manage. This resulted in a paradox where the app was used because of its social value, in spite of its limited functional value. This study reveals how relational and socially mediated effects of technology may complicate mHealth design and implementation, illuminating why 'acceptable' technologies within pilot/projects could struggle to sustain engagement a scale. To support attention to this process, we propose an explanatory framework that captures the social-functional dynamics of mHealth interventions which can guide much needed qualitative evaluation to support the design of mHealth technologies to align with stakeholders' needs and suited for integration into local healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Drabarek
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Manisha Yapa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tho T.H. Dang
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Hai Dang Vu
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Thu Anh Nguyen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Thu Thuong Do
- Vietnam Integrated Center for Tuberculosis and Respirology Research, Vietnam National Lung Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Binh Hoa Nguyen
- Vietnam Integrated Center for Tuberculosis and Respirology Research, Vietnam National Lung Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Dinh Hoa Vu
- National Centre of Drug information and Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Greg J. Fox
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sarah Bernays
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Nishimwe A, Conco DN, Nyssen M, Ibisomi L. A mixed-method study exploring experiences, perceptions, and acceptability of using a safe delivery mHealth application in two district hospitals in Rwanda. BMC Nurs 2022; 21:176. [PMID: 35787679 PMCID: PMC9251926 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-022-00951-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innovative use of mobile health (mHealth) technology in timely management of childbirth complications is a promising strategy, but its evidence base is limited. The Safe Delivery mHealth Application (SDA) is one of the recent mhealth applications (loaded in smartphones) which is a clinical decision support and training tool for basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC). This paper describes, the health providers' experiences, perceptions, and acceptability of using the SDA, as well as the perceptions of key stakeholders. METHODS A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Quantitative methods consisted of a self-reported acceptability survey, administered to 54 nurses and midwives, including questions on their usage and perceptions of the SDA. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the survey data. Qualitative methods included two focus group discussions with 24 nurses and midwives, and six key informant interviews with stakeholders (maternity matrons, responsible for maternal and child health, and district hospital managers). Thematic analysis was performed and selected quotations used to illustrate themes. The study took place in two district hospitals in Rwanda. RESULTS Quantitative results found that 31 (57.4%) participants used the SDA four to six times per week. Many participants felt more confident (53.7%) and better at their job (40.7%) since having the SDA. Likert scale survey responses (1-5, 1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree) indicated general agreement that SDA is easy to use (Mean = 4.46), is an effective decision support tool (4.63), and training tool (4.65). Qualitative results included themes on perceived usefulness; professional growth acquired through the use of the SDA; SDA, an empowering, intuitive, and user-friendly technology; desired SDA features and functions; benefits of SDA as perceived by key informants, and future use of the SDA. CONCLUSIONS The nurses and midwives perceive the SDA as having improved their ability to manage childbirth complications. Key stakeholders also perceive the SDA as a useful tool with a reasonable cost and recommend its implementation in routine practices. This study deepens the understanding of the potential benefits of mHealth such as the SDA in low-income settings, like Rwanda. It also provides more evidence on the impact of mHealth in assuring quality BEmONC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Nishimwe
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Smuts Avenue, 2000, Braamfontein, South Africa. .,School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 3286, Kigali, Rwanda.
| | - Daphney Nozizwe Conco
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Smuts Avenue, 2000, Braamfontein, South Africa
| | - Marc Nyssen
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Latifat Ibisomi
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Smuts Avenue, 2000, Braamfontein, South Africa.,Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6 Edmund Cres, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
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Adedeji T, Fraser H, Scott P. Implementing Electronic Health Records in Primary Care Using the Theory of Change: A Nigerian Case Study (Preprint). JMIR Med Inform 2021; 10:e33491. [PMID: 35969461 PMCID: PMC9412900 DOI: 10.2196/33491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Objective Methods Results Conclusions
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiwo Adedeji
- School of Computing, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Hamish Fraser
- Brown Center for Biomedical Informatics, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Philip Scott
- Institute of Management and Health, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen, United Kingdom
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Kinshella MLW, Sheikh S, Bawani S, La M, Sharma S, Vidler M, Magee LA, von Dadelszen P, Bhutta Z, Qureshi RN, Payne BA, The CLIP Working Group. "Now You Have Become Doctors": Lady Health Workers' Experiences Implementing an mHealth Application in Rural Pakistan. Front Glob Womens Health 2021; 2:645705. [PMID: 34816199 PMCID: PMC8594017 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2021.645705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: PIERS on the Move (POM) is a mobile health application developed to support community health workers identification and management of women at risk of adverse outcomes from pre-eclampsia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of using POM in Pakistan on Lady Health Workers' (LHWs) knowledge and self-efficacy related to caring for women with pre-eclampsia, and their perception of usefulness of the tool. Methodology: An evaluation was designed for health care workers involved in the Community-Level Intervention for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomized trial from 2014 to 2016 in Sindh Province, Pakistan (NCT01911494). A semi-structured focus group guide was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which theorizes that an individual's behavioral intention to use a system is determined by perceived usefulness and ease of use. Preliminary qualitative analysis was undertaken by the Pakistan and Canadian teams to create a coding framework for full qualitative analysis, which was completed using NVivo12. Results: Three key informant interviews were conducted with two Lady Health Supervisors and one Senior Medical Officer. Sixty-two LHWs were included in three focus group discussions. LHWs found the POM app easy to use and useful for their work as a helpful repository for maternal health information and guiding counseling and management of pre-eclampsia. LHWs reported increased knowledge and confidence in their work. Availability of clinical homecare, including postpartum, was felt to positively impact healthcare provided to pregnant and postpartum women. Potential community level impacts included strengthening relationships between health care providers and communities and between LHWs and the health system. LHWs shared reports of earlier care-seeking and increased awareness of maternal health issues by community members. Conclusions: LHWs carry a large burden of responsibility for community health in rural Pakistan and appreciated the investment in their skills and capacity during the CLIP trial with the POM app. Investing in communications technology for community health workers through improved referrals and follow up may strengthen cohesiveness of the health system overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai-Lei Woo Kinshella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sana Sheikh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sohail Bawani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Michelle La
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sumedha Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marianne Vidler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Laura A. Magee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter von Dadelszen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zulfiqar Bhutta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
- Centre for Global Child Health, SickKids Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Rahat Najam Qureshi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Beth A. Payne
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Adjei TK, Mohammed A, Acheampong PR, Acquah-Gyan E, Sylverken A, Twumasi-Ankrah S, Owusu M, Owusu-Dabo E. Determinants of a mobile phone-based Interactive Voice Response (mIVR) system for monitoring childhood illnesses in a rural district of Ghana: Empirical evidence from the UTAUT model. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248363. [PMID: 33705448 PMCID: PMC7951827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The use of a mobile phone-based Interactive Voice Response (mIVR) System for real time monitoring of childhood illnesses provides an opportunity to improve childhood survival and health systems. However, little is known about the factors that facilitate its use. This study sought to identify key determinants and moderators of mIVR system use among caregivers in a rural district of Ghana using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Methods The mIVR system was designed to provide real-time data on common symptoms of childhood illnesses after answering several questions by caregivers with sick children. A structured questionnaire with closed questions was used to collect data from 354 caregivers of children under-five living in rural communities, four (4) months after introducing the system. Regression analysis was used to identify key determinants and moderating factors that facilitate the use of the system based on the UTAUT model. Results A total of 101 (28.5%) caregivers had used the system and 328 (92.7%) had intention to use the mIVR system. Caregivers’ level of education and household wealth were associated with use of the mIVR systems (p<0.001). Behavioural intention (BI) to use mIVR system was positively influenced by performance expectancy (PE) (β = 0.278, 95% CI: 0.207, 0.349), effort expectancy (EE) (β = 0.242, 95% CI: 0.159, 0.326) and social influence (SI) (β = 0.081, 95% CI: 0.044, 0.120). Facilitating conditions (FC) (β = 0.609, 95% CI: 0.502, 0.715) and behavioural intention (β = 0.426, 95% CI: 0.255, 0.597) had a positive influence on user behaviour (UB). Mobile phone experience and household wealth significantly moderated the effect of PE, EE, SI, and FC on behavioural intention and usage of mIVR systems. Conclusion The perceived usefulness of the mIVR system, ease of use, social influences, and facilitating conditions are key determinants of users’ attitude and use of mIVR system. These relationships are significantly moderated by users’ phone experience and wealth status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Kwabena Adjei
- Department of Global and International Health, School of Public Health- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Aliyu Mohammed
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Princess Ruhama Acheampong
- Department of Global and International Health, School of Public Health- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Acquah-Gyan
- Department of Global and International Health, School of Public Health- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sampson Twumasi-Ankrah
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Owusu
- Faculty of Allied Health, Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ellis Owusu-Dabo
- Department of Global and International Health, School of Public Health- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Mbuthia F, Reid M, Fichardt A. Development and validation of a mobile health communication framework for postnatal care in rural Kenya. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICA NURSING SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijans.2021.100304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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Dick S, O'Connor Y, Thompson MJ, O'Donoghue J, Hardy V, Wu TSJ, O'Sullivan T, Chirambo GB, Heavin C. Considerations for Improved Mobile Health Evaluation: Retrospective Qualitative Investigation. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e12424. [PMID: 32012085 PMCID: PMC7003121 DOI: 10.2196/12424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile phone use and, consequently, mobile health (mHealth) interventions have seen an exponential increase in the last decade. There is an excess of 318,000 health-related apps available free of cost for consumers to download. However, many of these interventions are not evaluated and are lacking appropriate regulations. Randomized controlled trials are often considered the gold standard study design in determining the effectiveness of interventions, but recent literature has identified limitations in the methodology when used to evaluate mHealth. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the system developers' experiences of evaluating mHealth interventions in the context of a developing country. METHODS We employed a qualitative exploratory approach, conducting semistructured interviews with multidisciplinary members of an mHealth project consortium. A conventional content analysis approach was used to allow codes and themes to be identified directly from the data. RESULTS The findings from this study identified the system developers' perceptions of mHealth evaluation, providing an insight into the requirements of an effective mHealth evaluation. This study identified social and technical factors which should be taken into account when evaluating an mHealth intervention. CONCLUSIONS Contextual issues represented one of the most recurrent challenges of mHealth evaluation in the context of a developing country, highlighting the importance of a mixed method evaluation. There is a myriad of social, technical, and regulatory variables, which may impact the effectiveness of an mHealth intervention. Failure to account for these variables in an evaluation may limit the ability of the intervention to achieve long-term implementation and scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Dick
- Health Information Systems Research Centre, Cork University Business School, Cork, Ireland
| | - Yvonne O'Connor
- Health Information Systems Research Centre, Cork University Business School, Cork, Ireland
| | - Matthew J Thompson
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - John O'Donoghue
- Global eHealth Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Hardy
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - Timothy O'Sullivan
- Health Information Systems Research Centre, Cork University Business School, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Ciara Heavin
- Health Information Systems Research Centre, Cork University Business School, Cork, Ireland
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Dol J, Richardson B, Tomblin Murphy G, Aston M, McMillan D, Campbell-Yeo M. Impact of mobile health (mHealth) interventions during the perinatal period for mothers in low- and middle-income countries. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 17:1634-1667. [DOI: 10.11124/jbisrir-2017-004022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Dol J, Campbell-Yeo M, Tomblin Murphy G, Aston M, McMillan D, Richardson B. Impact of mobile health interventions during the perinatal period for mothers in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol. JBI DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS 2019; 17:137-146. [PMID: 30204713 DOI: 10.11124/jbisrir-2017-003801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
REVIEW QUESTION The objective of this review is to determine the impact of mother-targeted mobile health (mHealth) education interventions available during the perinatal period in low- and middle-income countries on maternal and newborn outcomes. Thus, the review questions are: what is the impact of mother-targeted mHealth education interventions on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Dol
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs and Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence
- World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Marsha Campbell-Yeo
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Division of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs and Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence
- World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Gail Tomblin Murphy
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs and Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence
- World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Megan Aston
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs and Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence
- World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Douglas McMillan
- Division of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada
| | - Brianna Richardson
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Aligning Health Needs and Evidence for Transformative Change (AH-NET-C): a Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence
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Cell phone ownership and modern contraceptive use in Burkina Faso: implications for research and interventions using mobile technology. Contraception 2018; 99:170-174. [PMID: 30468721 PMCID: PMC6441134 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives With over 420 million unique cell phone subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa, the opportunities to use personal cell phones for public health research and interventions are increasing. We assess the association between cell phone ownership and modern contraceptive use among women in Burkina Faso to understand the opportunity to track family planning indicators using cell phone surveys or provide family planning interventions remotely. Study design We analyzed data from a cross-sectional, nationally representative population-based survey of women of reproductive age in Burkina Faso, the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 Round 4, which was conducted between November 2016 and January 2017. Results Among the 3215 female respondents aged 15 to 49 years, 47% reported cell phone ownership. Overall, 22% of women reported current modern contraceptive use. Women who owned a cell phone were more likely to report modern contraceptive use than those who did not (29% versus 15%). Adjusted for covariates (age, wealth, education, area of residence and marital status), the odds of reporting modern contraceptive use were 68% higher among cell phone owners compared to nonowners (odds ratio=1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.3–2.1). Method mix was substantially more diverse among those who owned cell phones compared to their counterparts. Conclusions The study shows that cell phone ownership is significantly associated with modern contraceptive use in Burkina Faso, even after adjusting for women's sociodemographic characteristics. These results suggest that cell phone ownership selectivity and associated biases need to be addressed when planning family planning programs or conducting surveys using cell phones. Implications Cell phones can be used for myriad family planning purposes, from confidential data collection to contraceptive promotion and knowledge dissemination, but ownership bias is significant. A cell-phone-based intervention or population-based survey is unlikely to reach a critical mass of the population at highest risk for unintended pregnancy.
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Eze E, Gleasure R, Heavin C. Mobile health solutions in developing countries: a stakeholder perspective. Health Syst (Basingstoke) 2018; 9:179-201. [PMID: 32939258 PMCID: PMC7476488 DOI: 10.1080/20476965.2018.1457134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infrastructural deficiencies, limited access to medical care, and shortage of health care workers are just a few of the barriers to health care in developing countries. mHealth has the potential to overcome at least some of these challenges. To address this, a stakeholder perspective is adopted and an analysis of existing research is undertaken to look at mHealth delivery in developing countries. This study focuses on four key stakeholder groups i.e., health care workers, patients, system developers, and facilitators. A systematic review identifies 108 peer-reviewed articles, which are analysed to determine the extent these articles investigate the different types of stakeholder interactions, and to identify high-level themes emerging within these interactions. This analysis illustrates two key gaps. First, while interactions involving health care workers and/or patients have received significant attention, little research has looked at the role of patient-to-patient interactions. Second, the interactions between system developers and the other stakeholder groups are strikingly under-represented.
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