Back to Search
Start Over
Implementation of mHealth applications in community-based health care: Insights from Ward-Based Outreach Teams in South Africa
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, Vol 17, Iss 1 (2022), PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 17, Iss 1, p e0262842 (2022)
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2022.
-
Abstract
- Background Ward-Based Outreach Teams’ (WBOTs) use of mobile technologies can promote better quality and improved health services for populations in low- and middle-income countries. However, the implementation of such systems is fraught with threats to sustainability. Purpose The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of users’ views and experiences of the implementation of mHealth in a selected sub-district in North West Province, South Africa. Methods The study was qualitative, exploratory and descriptive. Data were collected from community health workers (CHWs) (n = 24) and outreach team leaders (OTLs) (n = 4) who used mobile devices loaded with the Mobenzi application through semi-structured focus group interviews, using an interview guide. Creswell’s stages of thematic analysis were used for data analysis, and codes, categories and themes were validated with the participants. Results Three themes emerged from the findings, namely the transition from a paper-based system to an electronic system; the use of the application; and reverting to paper-based documentation. The findings revealed that WBOTs considered the mHealth application as useful, easy to use, and supportive to their workflow. They experienced some technical challenges and lamented the inaccessibility of technicians. The mobile initiative’s termination caused distress among the participants, especially CHWs who had to revert to paper-based documentation to capture community health data. OTLs were concerned about the quality of health data being captured in the absence of the application. Conclusions The study concluded that community-based health care programmes that use WBOTs and mHealth technologies are essential in strengthening the health care system. WBOTs are facilitators for improving access to health care. Policy-makers and district managers will gain useful insights if they engage application users in discussions regarding future mobile health interventions for household and community-based care.
- Subjects :
- Computer and Information Sciences
Science and Technology Workforce
Science Policy
Epidemiology
Health Care Providers
Science
Careers in Research
Geographical locations
South Africa
Medicine and Health Sciences
Community Health Services
Health Systems Strengthening
Data Management
Allied Health Care Professionals
Health Care Policy
Multidisciplinary
Technicians
Hospitals
Telemedicine
Health Care
Professions
Health Education and Awareness
Health Care Facilities
Medical Risk Factors
Africa
Medicine
Population Groupings
People and places
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fec3f1d6e44a769624135a5635735686