Improving Access to Health Services in Sub-Saharan Africa Using Mobile and Wireless Technologies

Abstract

About 70% of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa are associated with infectious diseases. Sub-Saharan Africa has, on average, fewer than ten doctors per 100,000 people, and 14 countries do not have a single radiologist. Hospital facilities are inadequate. On average, there are nine hospital beds for every 10,000 people living in sub-Saharan Africa, while in Europe, there are 62 hospital beds per 10,000 people. The health sector in many sub-Saharan African countries continues to face many challenges, particularly in disease surveillance and infectious disease epidemic. Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are continuously gaining ground in sub-Saharan Africa, and the recent Ebola epidemic in the West Africa is still the largest in history. On the other hand, sub-Saharan Africa is forecasted to be the fastest-growing region in the world. Mobile and wireless technology penetration rates in many sub-Saharan countries are rapidly increasing. The use of mobile and wireless technologies in the healthcare industry (mHealth) has an enormous potential to provide improved and easily accessible healthcare at lower costs. However, there is very little empirical knowledge on its efficacy, sustainability, and best practice of mHealth in sub-Saharan Africa, and many mHealth projects are still being piloted. Therefore, using systematic review method, this chapter examines the use of mobile and wireless technologies in the prevention, surveillance, management, and compliance of disease epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and the extent to which mobile phone technology addresses rampant challenges associated with access to health services in the region. This chapter also identifies challenges of implementing mHealth and outlines a number of remedies. The lessons outlined in this chapter are of great significance for those planning or deploying mHealth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Appendix

Group	References
Introduction	IPIN (2012), WHO (2016), Soucat (2014), WHO (2012), Vishwanath et al. (2012), WHO (2011), Kahn et al. (2010), Crul (2014), Ogunmefun et al. (2010), Seebregts et al. (2009), Skinner et al. (2007), Tomlinson et al. (2009), Unite for Sight (2015)
Methodology	Hemingway and Brereton (2009), DFID (2013), Kowalczyk and Truluck (2013), Zanker and Mallett (2013), Kahn et al. (2010)
mHealth in SSA	Vishwanath et al. (2012), Crown Agents (2014)
Mobile Tech in SSA	Brinkel et al. (2014), Piette et al. (2012), Vishwanath et al. (2012), UCC (2015), Lallana (2007), Aker and Mbiti (2010)
Prevention	WHO (2013), Unite for Sight (2015), Gaziano et al. (2007), Crown Agents (2014), Soucat (2014), Vital Wave Consulting (2009), Cheers (2013), Abegunde et al. (2007), Wakefield et al. (2010), Odigie et al. (2012), Silva et al. (2015), Gurman et al. (2012), Corker (2010)
Surveillance	Berhane (2008), Chihanga et al. (2012), Steyn et al. (2005), Vital Wave Consulting (2009), Cheers (2013), ITU (2013), USAID/Ghana (2013), Brinkel et al. (2014), Kahn et al. (2010), Tollman et al. (2008)
Management	Douglas et al. (2003), Dimagi (2015), Rotich et al. (2003), Vital Wave Consulting (2009), WHO (2013), Kumar (2007), Sheikh (2014), Anokwa et al. (2012)
Compliance	Vital Wave Consulting (2009), Mahmud et al. (2010), Odigie et al. (2012), Siedner et al. (2012), Skinner et al. (2007), Unite for Sight (2015), Roney (2012), WHO (2013), Davey et al. (2012)
Challenges of mHealth in SSA	Mars (2013), Pascoe et al. (2012), Brinkel et al. (2014), WHO (2011), Crul (2014), Vishwanath et al. (2012), Whittaker et al. (2011), Chaiyachati et al. (2013), Sheikh (2014)