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Mobile Phone-Based mHealth Approaches for Public Health Surveillance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Johanna Brinkel

    (Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany
    Department of Biological, Environmental, Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Ghana)

  • Alexander Krämer

    (Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ralf Krumkamp

    (Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht-Str. 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jürgen May

    (Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht-Str. 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Julius Fobil

    (Department of Biological, Environmental, Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Ghana
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Whereas mobile phone-based surveillance has the potential to provide real-time validated data for disease clustering and prompt respond and investigation, little evidence is available on current practice in sub-Sahara Africa. The objective of this review was to examine mobile phone-based mHealth interventions for Public Health surveillance in the region. We conducted electronic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, IEE Xplore, African Index Medicus (AIM), BioMed Central, PubMed Central (PMC), the Public Library of Science (PLoS) and IRIS for publications used in the review. In all, a total of nine studies were included which focused on infectious disease surveillance of malaria ( n = 3), tuberculosis ( n = 1) and influenza-like illnesses ( n = 1) as well as on non-infectious disease surveillance of child malnutrition ( n = 2), maternal health ( n = 1) and routine surveillance of various diseases and symptoms ( n = 1). Our review revealed that mobile phone-based surveillance projects in the sub-Saharan African countries are on small scale, fragmented and not well documented. We conclude by advocating for a strong drive for more research in the applied field as well as a better reporting of lessons learned in order to create an epistemic community to help build a more evidence-based field of practice in mHealth surveillance in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Brinkel & Alexander Krämer & Ralf Krumkamp & Jürgen May & Julius Fobil, 2014. "Mobile Phone-Based mHealth Approaches for Public Health Surveillance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-24, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:11:p:11559-11582:d:42197
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank, 2012. "2012 Information and Communications for Development : Maximizing Mobile [Information et communications au service du développement : Exploiter au maximum la téléphonie mobile]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 11958.
    2. Lucas, Henry, 2008. "Information and communications technology for future health systems in developing countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 2122-2132, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Josh Platzky Miller & Antoine Sander & Sharath Srinivasan, 2022. "Control, Extract, Legitimate: COVID‐19 and Digital Techno‐opportunism across Africa," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(6), pages 1283-1307, November.
    2. Konstantinos Mitsakakis & Sebastian Hin & Pie Müller & Nadja Wipf & Edward Thomsen & Michael Coleman & Roland Zengerle & John Vontas & Konstantinos Mavridis, 2018. "Converging Human and Malaria Vector Diagnostics with Data Management towards an Integrated Holistic One Health Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Luba Pascoe & Thomas Clemen & Karen Bradshaw & Devotha Nyambo, 2022. "Review of Importance of Weather and Environmental Variables in Agent-Based Arbovirus Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Kassoum Dianou & Abdramane B. Soura & Shammi Luhar & Kelly McCain & Georges Reniers & Bruno Masquelier & Bruno Lankoandé & Ashira Menashe-Oren & Malebogo Tlhajoane & Hervé Bassinga, 2025. "The use of mobile phone surveys for rapid mortality monitoring: A national study in Burkina Faso," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 52(16), pages 479-518.

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