Utilization of Mobile Health and Its Associated Factors in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Mobile health consists of SMS reminders, smartphone applications, mobile telemedicine, and mobile applications that can improve access to healthcare, improve adherence to the treatment process, and facilitate communication between patients and providers. In Ethiopia, mobile health adoption is growing rapidly; however, there is limited systematic review research on how mobile health is currently being utilized and the factors influencing its use. This systematic review summarizes available studies to evaluate the current level of mobile health utilization in Ethiopia and what factors are related to its utilization.

A systematic review was performed on PubMed, the Scopus database, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar as of November 25, 2025, for research articles that report the use of mobile health by patients, healthcare professionals, and university students in Ethiopia. The articles were reviewed and evaluated for quality of evidence, and data extraction was done using a standard template and the Joanna Briggs Institute method of determining the quality of evidence.

Utilization rates for mobile health ranged from a low of 13% to a high of 71.2%, with increased levels of use noted for physicians, antiretroviral therapy patients, and students. On the other hand, younger-aged individuals, those living in urban areas, those who have received a college education, those who have a favorable attitude toward mobile health, and those who have technical skills, perceived usefulness, ease of use, internet access, and availability of technical support were all found to contribute positively to mobile health utilization.

This systematic review identified varying levels of mobile health utilization across different settings and population groups in Ethiopia. Commonly reported factors associated with mHealth use included digital literacy, technical skills, internet access, positive attitudes toward mHealth, and availability of technical support. To increase the level of mobile health use, it is important to improve users' attitudes, provide technical support, enhance digital skills, and develop necessary infrastructures.