Can mobile phones help control neglected tropical diseases? Experiences from Tanzania

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4593404
AutoresShirin Madon (0000-0002-4497-2165, London School of Economics and Political Science, autor de correspondencia), Jackline Olanya Amaguru (London School of Economics and Political Science), Mwele Ntuli Malecela, Mwele Malecela (National Institute for Medical Research), Elizabeth Michael (0000-0002-9473-4245, University of Notre Dame), Edwin Michael (0000-0001-7940-3512)
Año2014
Volumen102
Páginas103-110
Fecha de publicación2014-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSocial Science & Medicine (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.11.036
PMID24565147
OpenAlexW2077598260
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas13

The increasing proliferation of mobiles offers possibilities for improving health systems in developing countries. A case in point is Tanzania which has piloted a mobile phone-based Management Information System (MIS) for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) where village health workers (VHWs) were given mobile phones with web-based software to test the feasibility of using frontline health workers to capture data at point of source. Based on qualitative case study research carried out in 2011, we found that providing mobile phones to VHWs has helped to increase the efficiency of routine work boosting the motivation and self-esteem of VHWs. However, despite these advantages, the information generated from the mobile phone-based NTD MIS has yet to be used to support decentralised decision-making. Even with improved technology and political will, the biggest hindrance to local usage of information for health planning is the lack of synthesised and analysed health information from the district and national levels to the villages. Without inculcating a culture of providing health information feedback to frontline workers and community organisations, the benefits of the intervention will be limited. If not addressed, this will mean that mobiles have maintained the one-way upward flow of information for NTD control and simply made reporting more hi-tech

Business · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Internet privacy · Mobile computing · Mobile phone · Mobile technology · Neglected tropical diseases · Public health · Socioeconomics · Tanzania · Telecommunications · Computer Science · E-Government and Public Services · ICT Impact and Policies · ICT in Developing Communities · Medicine · Nursing