AN ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY READINESS FOR MHEALTH IN RURAL DARFUR SUDAN
Journal Title: European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research - Year 2018, Vol 5, Issue 12
Abstract
Introduction: There are increasing numbers of mHealth initiatives in middle and low income countries aimed at improving health outcomes. Arecent study in Sudan examined community readiness for mHealth using a framework based on quantitative data. Given the importance of a framework and the complementary role of qualitative exploration, this paper presents data from a qualitative study which complements findings from the quantitative study. Methods: The study was conducted in Abwaejura, Hamaraia, and Tono in the south-western direction of the city of Nyala in Sudan. Indepth Interviews were conducted between December 2017 and March 2018 for 30 participants. Participants are from general public, students, community leaders, school teachers, and formal and informal healthcare providers. Thematic analysis was used to create an appropriate and logical framework to examine community readiness. As in the quantitative investigation, this study approached the investigation with four types of readiness in mind: core readiness, technological readiness, human resource readiness and motivational readiness. Results: Community members, community leaders and health care providers expressed their interest in the use of mHealth in rural Sudan. Awareness of mHealth and its advantages was low among uneducated people. Participants who have used mHealth were attracted to the speed of access to qualified healthcare providers, time savings and low cost. In contrast some participants do not see the value of using mobile phones for healthcare compared to a face to face consultation. Illiteracy, lack of trust, technological incapability and Heath care providers do not receive messages and calls from this segment of the commuity were identified as barriers to mHealth use. However, positive awareness, asense of ownership, the humbleness of health service providers, and the future outlook for mobile health are the driving force behind this program. Conclusions: This study reaffirmed the mHealth readiness conceptual framework with different dimensions of readiness and identified potential constraints and possible solutions for mHealth. In order to improve mobile health, emphasis shoud be placed on training adopters, providing less costly services and providing adegree of trust.
Authors and Affiliations
Ekram A. Eldoom
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP646165
- DOI -
- Views 143
- Downloads 0
TRAJECTORY OF HYPERTENSION IN AFRICA FROM NEAR ABSENCE TO A SILENT EMERGING EPIDEMIC
ALTHOUGH HYPERTENSION WAS VIRTUALLY ABSENT IN AFRICA BEFORE 1930 IT HAS NOW BECOME AN emerging epidemic essentially responsible for the double burden of disease in developing countries. This non-communicable disease (NCD...
VISUAL FINDINGS IN NEOVASCULAR MACULAR DEGENERATION REFRACTORY TO BEVACIZUMAB AFTER INTRAVITREAL AFLIBERCEPT THERAPY
Neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with blindness in patient populations above 55 years of age, affecting approximately 2 million Americans. Intravitreal (IV) bevacizumab is widely emp...
EFFECTIVENESS OF IMMUNO-CORRECTING THERAPY IN CHILDREN IN THE COMPLEX TREATMENT OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS
Background: The frequency of respiratory diseases remains one of the urgent problems of modern pediatrics, determining the high level of childhood morbidity, infant mortality, and disability in adolescence. Objective: We...
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THE LEAF FRACTIONS OF ALCHORNEA CORDIFOLIA AGAINST ISOLATES FROM PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ZARIA, NIGERIA
Background: Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in antibacterial resistance and a decline in the development of novel antibiotics. This problem is prevalent among common etiologic pathogens associated with Re...
HEPATITIS B VACCINE RESPONSE AMONG HEALTH WORKER KHAMIS MUSHAIT GENERAL HOSPITAL, SAUDI ARABIA, 2019
Introduction: The health care provider is face every days challenging of getting infection with may disease one of the important vaccine preventable disease is the hepatitis B vaccine the employer clinic in the Khamis Mu...