Thinking about the environment and theorising change

How could Life History Strategy Theory inform mHealth interventions in low- and middle-income countries

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19529950
AutoresBarak Morgan (0000-0002-9380-431X, University of Cape Town, autor de correspondencia), Xanthe Hunt (0000-0001-7531-6665, Stellenbosch University), Mark Tomlinson (0000-0001-5846-3444, Stellenbosch University)
Año2017
Volumen10
Número1
Páginas1320118-1320118
Fecha de publicación2017-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaGlobal Health Action (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1654-9716 • E-ISSN: 1654-9880
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/16549716.2017.1320118
PMID28617198
OpenAlexW2624846219
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas40

BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of literature outlining the promise of mobile information and communication technologies to improve healthcare in resource-constrained contexts. METHODS: We reviewed the literature related to mobile information and communication technologies which aim to improve healthcare in resource-constrained contexts, in order to glean general observations regarding the state of mHealth in high-income countries (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). RESULTS: mHealth interventions in LMIC often differ substantively from those in HIC, with the former being simpler, delivered through a single digital component (an SMS as opposed to a mobile phone application, or 'app'), and, as a result, targeting only one of the many factors which impact on the activation (or deactivation) of the target behaviour. Almost as a rule, LMIC mHealth interventions lack an explicit theory of change. CONCLUSION: We highlight the necessity, when designing mHealth interventions, of having a theory of change that encompasses multiple salient perspectives pertaining to human behaviour. To address this need, we explore whether the concept of Life History Strategy could provide the mHealth field with a useful theory of change. Life History Strategy Theory may be particularly useful in understanding some of the problems, paradoxes, and limitations of mHealth interventions found in LMIC. Specifically, this theory illuminates questions regarding 'light-weight' programmes which solely provide information, reminders, and other virtual 'nudges' that may have limited impact on behaviours governed by extrinsic structural factors

Information and Communications Technology · mHealth · Mobile phone · Nudge theory · Psychological intervention · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · ICT in Developing Communities · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology