Demetri A Blanas1, Youssoupha Ndiaye2, Matthew MacFarlane3, Isaac Manga2, Ammar Siddiqui4, Olivia Velez5, Andrew S Kanter6, Kim Nichols7, Nils Hennig4. 1. Harlem Residency in Family Medicine, Institute for Family Health, New York, New York, 10029, USA dblanas@institute2000.org. 2. Health District of Saraya, Senegalese Ministry of Health, Saraya, Senegal. 3. Center on Child Protection, Jakarta, Indonesia. 4. Mount Sinai Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA. 5. ICF International, New York, New York, 10028, USA. 6. Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, 10027, USA. 7. African Services Committee, New York, New York, 10027, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although community case management of malaria increases access to life-saving care in isolated settings, it contends with many logistical challenges. Mobile phone health information technology may present an opportunity to address a number of these barriers. METHODS: Using the wireless adaptation of the technology acceptance model, this study assessed availability, ease of use, usefulness, and job relevance of mobile phones by health workers in Saraya, Senegal. RESULTS: This study conducted seven key informant interviews with government health workers, and three focus groups and 76 surveys with lay health workers. Principal findings included that mobile phones are already widely available and used, and that participants valued using phones to address training, stock management, programme reporting, and transportation challenges. CONCLUSIONS: By documenting widespread use of mobile phones and health worker perceptions of their most useful applications, this paper provides a framework for their integration into the community case management of malaria programme in Saraya, Senegal.
BACKGROUND: Although community case management of malaria increases access to life-saving care in isolated settings, it contends with many logistical challenges. Mobile phone health information technology may present an opportunity to address a number of these barriers. METHODS: Using the wireless adaptation of the technology acceptance model, this study assessed availability, ease of use, usefulness, and job relevance of mobile phones by health workers in Saraya, Senegal. RESULTS: This study conducted seven key informant interviews with government health workers, and three focus groups and 76 surveys with lay health workers. Principal findings included that mobile phones are already widely available and used, and that participants valued using phones to address training, stock management, programme reporting, and transportation challenges. CONCLUSIONS: By documenting widespread use of mobile phones and health worker perceptions of their most useful applications, this paper provides a framework for their integration into the community case management of malaria programme in Saraya, Senegal.
Authors: Griphin Baxter Chirambo; Victoria E Hardy; Ciara Heavin; Yvonne O'Connor; John O'Donoghue; Nikolaos Mastellos; Tammy Tran; Jenny Hsieh; Joseph Tsung-Shu Wu; Sven Carlsson; Bo Andersson; Adamson S Muula; Matthew Thompson Journal: Malawi Med J Date: 2018-03 Impact factor: 0.875