Is there an optimal screening tool for identifying perinatal depression within clinical settings of sub-Saharan Africa?

BACKGROUND There is a rapid uptake of mobile-enabled technologies in lower- and upper- middle-income countries because of its portability, ability to reduce or enhance mobility and facilitation of communication. However, there is limited empirical evidence on the usefulness of mobile health (mHealth) information and communication technologies (ICTs) to address time and location constraints associated with the work activities of healthcare professionals at points-of-care to enhance service delivery in hospital settings. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper was to explore opportunities for integrating mHealth ICTs into the work activities of healthcare professionals at points-of-care in clinical settings of hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, the research question was “How can mHealth ICTs be integrated into the work activities of healthcare professionals at points-of-care in hospital settings?” METHODS A qualitative approach was adopted to understand the work activities and at what point mHealth ICTs could be integrated to support healthcare professionals. The techniques of inquiry were semi-structured interviews and co-design activities. These techniques were used to engage and ensure participation of frontline end users to determine how mHealth ICTs could be integrated into the points-of-care in hospital settings. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the tertiary hospitals and participants for this study from South Africa and Nigeria. A total of 21 participants including doctors, nurses and hospital managers were engaged. Ethical clearance was granted by the University research committee and the respective hospitals. The data collected was sorted using the thematic analysis and the Activity analysis and development (ActAD) model to interpret the data. RESULTS The findings show that mHealth ICTs are suitable at the points where: healthcare professionals consult with patients in the hospital clinics; remote communication is needed; management of referrals and report writing are required. It was inferred that mHealth ICTs could be negatively disruptive and some participants perceived the use of mobile devices while engaging with patients as unprofessional. These findings were informed by outcomes of the interplay between human attributes and technology capabilities during transformation of the motives of work activity into the intended goal, which is enhanced service delivery CONCLUSIONS The opportunities to integrate mHealth ICTs into clinical settings depends on the inefficiencies of interaction moments experienced by healthcare professionals at points-of-care during patient consultation, remote communication, referrals and report writing. Thus, the timeliness of mHealth ICTs to address constraints experienced by healthcare professionals’ during work activities should take into consideration the type of work activity, the contextual enabling or inhibiting factors that may result in contradictions and technology features. This study contributes towards the design of mHealth ICTs by industry vendors and its usability evaluation of work activity outcomes carried out by healthcare professionals.

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Integration of mHealth ICTs into the Clinical Settings of Hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Study (Preprint)

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/26358 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Oluwamayowa Ogundaini ◽

Retha de la Harpe ◽

Nyx McLean

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Sub Saharan

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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Mortality and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa

Population Studies ◽

10.1080/0032472031000147416 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 555-556

Author(s):

Lado Ruzicka

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Sub-Saharan Africa

The Military Balance ◽

10.1080/04597228708459635 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 118-142

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Adolescent Suicidality as Seen in Rural Northeastern Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000059 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eugene Kinyanda ◽

Ruth Kizza ◽

Jonathan Levin ◽

Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽

Catherine Abbo

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.

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