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Evaluation of an Android-based mHealth system for population surveillance in developing countries
Zeshan A Rajput1, Samuel Mbugua, David Amadi
1Department of Medical Informatics, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. zeshan.rajput@gmail.com
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA
|February 28, 2012
Summary
A mobile device system for home-based care was developed and implemented in Kenya. This cost-effective solution improves data collection for community health workers, enabling timely program adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Digital health interventions
- Global health systems
- Mobile health (mHealth) technology
Background:
- Traditional healthcare systems in developing regions often fail to meet population needs due to supply-demand imbalances.
- Home-based care presents a cost-effective strategy to deliver healthcare services directly to underserved populations.
- Mobile technology offers a promising avenue for enhancing the efficiency and reach of home-based care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop, implement, and evaluate a mobile device-based system supporting home-based healthcare services.
- To assess the usability and cost-effectiveness of a mobile system for community health workers.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale electronic data collection in resource-constrained settings.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mobile phones with a structured survey administered via Open Data Kit (ODK).
- Implemented the system for health screening of two million individuals in western Kenya.
- Employed community health workers to deliver the mobile-based intervention.
Main Results:
- System users reported ease of use and perceived facilitation of their work.
- The mobile system proved more cost-effective compared to traditional pen-and-paper methods.
- Immediate electronic data availability allowed for prompt reporting and trend detection.
Conclusions:
- Successfully developed and implemented a scalable, cost-effective electronic data collection system for household visits in resource-constrained environments.
- This large-scale application highlights the potential of handheld devices in clinical care during home visits.
- Electronic data facilitated timely program adjustments, improving healthcare delivery responsiveness.
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