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

Social science & medicine (1982) · 2014 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 3100

Study snapshot

PublicationSocial science & medicine (1982) · 2014

Study typeother

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

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.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationVillage health workers (VHWs) in Tanzania involved in neglected tropical disease (NTD) control

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a qualitative case study of a pilot mobile phone-based MIS for NTD control in Tanzania, providing mobile phones to village health workers was reported to increase efficiency of routine work and boost motivation and self-esteem. However, information generated by the system had not yet been used to support decentralised decision-making; a key hindrance was lack of synthesised/analysed health information and feedback from district/national levels to villages.

Outcomes measured

Feasibility of using frontline health workers to capture data at point of source via mobile phone-based MIS
Efficiency of routine work
Motivation and self-esteem of VHWs
Use of generated information to support decentralised decision-making
Barriers to local usage of information for health planning (feedback/synthesis of health information)

Limitations

Qualitative case study design
Study conducted in 2011 (context-specific)
No sample size reported in abstract
No EMF/RF exposure metrics (e.g., frequency, SAR, duration) reported

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Village health workers (VHWs) in Tanzania involved in neglected tropical disease (NTD) control",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Feasibility of using frontline health workers to capture data at point of source via mobile phone-based MIS",
    "Efficiency of routine work",
    "Motivation and self-esteem of VHWs",
    "Use of generated information to support decentralised decision-making",
    "Barriers to local usage of information for health planning (feedback/synthesis of health information)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a qualitative case study of a pilot mobile phone-based MIS for NTD control in Tanzania, providing mobile phones to village health workers was reported to increase efficiency of routine work and boost motivation and self-esteem. However, information generated by the system had not yet been used to support decentralised decision-making; a key hindrance was lack of synthesised/analysed health information and feedback from district/national levels to villages.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Qualitative case study design",
    "Study conducted in 2011 (context-specific)",
    "No sample size reported in abstract",
    "No EMF/RF exposure metrics (e.g., frequency, SAR, duration) reported"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phones",
    "mHealth",
    "management information system",
    "neglected tropical diseases",
    "Tanzania",
    "village health workers",
    "health information feedback",
    "decentralised decision-making"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.11.036
PubMed: 24565147

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