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Mapping the evidence on mHealth interventions for cardiovascular event care in Africa: a scoping review
Sintieh Nchinda Ngek Ekongefeyin1,2, Guisilla Dedino3, Cervantée Wild2,4
1Institute for Implementation Science in Healthcare, University of Zurich Faculty of Medicine, Zürich, Switzerland sintieh.ekongefeyin@uzh.ch.
Insights
Mobile health (mHealth) shows promise for cardiovascular care in Africa, especially for stroke. However, systemic issues like health system constraints and digital literacy hinder widespread adoption of these digital health tools.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health in Africa
Background:
- Cardiovascular events pose a growing threat to African healthcare systems.
- Mobile health (mHealth) offers a potential solution to manage this rising burden.
- This review maps mHealth interventions for cardiovascular care in Africa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of mHealth interventions for cardiovascular event care in Africa.
- To identify trends in geographical distribution, intervention types, and target conditions.
- To assess the reported outcomes and challenges of mHealth adoption.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature (2013-2025).
- Inclusion criteria: mHealth interventions for cardiovascular event care in Africa.
- Data synthesis by geographical distribution, intervention type, and condition.
Main Results:
- 26 studies reviewed, primarily in Eastern and Western Africa.
- Focus on stroke care (20/26) and post-event management.
- Smartphone apps and SMS/phone calls were common; AI used for arrhythmia screening.
- Positive outcomes reported but faced challenges: health system constraints, digital literacy, cost.
Conclusions:
- mHealth interventions show potential for improving cardiovascular care, particularly stroke care in Africa.
- Widespread adoption is limited by systemic and contextual barriers.
- Future efforts must focus on health system strengthening, digital literacy, and cost-effective, user-friendly mHealth solutions.
Background:
The burden of cardiovascular events in Africa is projected to rise significantly in the coming decade, placing additional strain on already overburdened healthcare systems. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies present a promising approach to addressing these challenges. This scoping review mapped the utilisation of mHealth interventions in cardiovascular event care across Africa.
Methods:
A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2013 and 2025 was conducted. Studies were included if they focused on mHealth interventions for cardiovascular event care in Africa. Data were extracted and synthesised, categorising studies by geographical distribution, intervention type and target cardiovascular condition.
Results:
A total of 26 studies were identified, comprising small-scale pilots, randomised controlled trials and process evaluations. Geographically, most studies were conducted in Eastern and Western Africa. The majority focused on stroke care (20/26) rather than myocardial infarction (5/26) and predominantly addressed post-event care. The most common technologies used were smartphone applications (11/26) and SMS/phone call interventions (7/26), with one study incorporating artificial intelligence for arrhythmia screening. While positive outcomes were frequently reported, significant challenges included health system constraints, low digital literacy and financial barriers.
Conclusion:
mHealth technologies demonstrate potential in improving cardiovascular event care in Africa, particularly for stroke care. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by systemic and contextual challenges. Addressing these barriers through targeted health system strengthening, digital literacy initiatives and the design of mHealth interventions that are cost-effective, user-friendly and aligned with existing workflows is essential to leveraging mHealth in cardiovascular care.
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