A mobile phone application for malaria case-based reporting to advance malaria surveillance in Myanmar: a mixed methods evaluation

Abstract Background To achieve malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Myanmar, it is necessary to ensure all malaria cases are detected, treated, and reported in a timely manner. Mobile phone-based applications for malaria reporting, case management, and surveillance implemented at a community-level may overcome reporting limitations associated with current paper-based reporting (PBR), but their effectiveness in this context is unknown. Methods A mixed methods evaluation study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a national Malaria Case-Based Reporting (MCBR) mobile phone application in improving malaria case reporting compared to the existing PBR reporting system in Myanmar. Methods included secondary analysis of malaria case report data, questionnaires, focus group discussions and field observations of community volunteers, interviews and direct observations of malaria programme stakeholders, and cost analysis. Using a combination of these approaches the following areas were investigated: data quality and completeness, data access and usage, capacity for timely reporting, the acceptability, functionality, and ease of use of the application and facilitators and barriers to its use, and the relative cost of MCBR compared to the PBR system. Results Compared to PBR, MCBR enabled more accurate and complete data to be reported in a much timelier manner, with 63% of MCBR users reporting they transmit rapid diagnostic test outcomes within 24 h, compared to 0% of PBR users. MCBR was favoured by integrated community malaria volunteers and their supervisors because of its efficiency. However, several technical and operational challenges associated with internet coverage, data transmission, and e-literacy were identified and stakeholders reported not being confident to rely solely on MCBR data for programmatic decision-making. Conclusions Implementation of MCBR provided timely and accurate data for malaria surveillance. Findings from this evaluation study will enable the optimization of an application-based reporting system for malaria monitoring and surveillance in the Greater Mekong Subregion and advance systems to track progress towards, and certify, the achievement of malaria elimination targets.

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Sustainability of a mobile phone application-based data reporting system in Myanmar’s malaria elimination program: a qualitative study

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making ◽

10.1186/s12911-021-01646-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Win Han Oo ◽

Kaung Myat Thu ◽

Julia C. Cutts ◽

Win Htike ◽

Kyawt Mon Win ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

User Satisfaction ◽

Parallel Systems ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

System Integrity ◽

Case Based

Abstract Background Strengthening surveillance systems to collect near-real-time case-based data plays a fundamental role in achieving malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). With the advanced and widespread use of digital technology, mHealth is increasingly taking a prominent role in malaria surveillance systems in GMS countries, including Myanmar. In Myanmar’s malaria elimination program, an mHealth system called Malaria Case-based Reporting (MCBR) has been applied for case-based reporting of malaria data by integrated community malaria volunteers (ICMVs). However, the sustainability of such mHealth systems in the context of existing malaria elimination programs in Myanmar is unknown. Methods Focus group discussions were conducted with ICMVs and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with malaria program stakeholders from Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports and its malaria program implementing partners. Thematic (deductive followed by inductive) analysis was undertaken using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results Technological and financial constraints such as inadequate internet access, software errors, and insufficient financial resources to support mobile phone-related costs have hampered users’ access to MCBR. Poor system integrity, unpredictable reporting outcomes, inadequate human resources for system management, and inefficient user support undermined the perceived quality of the system and user satisfaction, and hence its sustainability. Furthermore, multiple parallel systems with functions overlapping those of MCBR were in use. Conclusions Despite its effectiveness and efficiency in malaria surveillance, the sustainability of nationwide implementation of MCBR is uncertain. To make it sustainable, stakeholders should deploy a dedicated human workforce with the necessary technical and technological capacities; secure sustainable, long-term funding for implementation of MCBR; find an alternative cost-effective plan for ensuring sustainable system access by ICMVs, such as using volunteer-owned mobile phones for reporting rather than supporting new mobile phones to them; and find a solution to the burden of multiple parallel systems. Trial registration Not applicable.

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Sustainability of a Mobile Phone Application-Based Data Reporting System in Myanmar’s Malaria Elimination Program: A Qualitative Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-701467/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Win Han Oo ◽

Kaung Myat Thu ◽

Julia Cutts ◽

Win Htike ◽

Kyawt Mon Win ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

User Satisfaction ◽

Parallel Systems ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

System Integrity ◽

Case Based

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Malaria Vector Control and the Electronic Malaria Surveillance Information System (E-SISMAL) in Bangka Barat Regency Indonesia

JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN ◽

10.20473/jkl.v13i4.2021.241-249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 241

Author(s):

Asmiani Asmiani ◽

Yuanita Windusari ◽

Hamzah Hasyim

Keyword(s):

Information System ◽

Vector Control ◽

Malaria Vector ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Qualitative Evaluation ◽

Evaluation Study ◽

Malaria Vector Control ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

Data Coverage ◽

Depth Interviews

Introduction: Until the end of 2020, West Bangka Regency was the only one that has not been certified for malaria elimination, so that it has an impact on achieving malaria elimination at the provincial level of Bangka Belitung. The West Bangka Regency's Electronic Malaria Surveillance Information System (E-SISMAL) showed eight indigenous malaria cases and no malaria vector control reports in 2020. The indigenous cases in West Bangka Regency have prevented malaria elimination. This study aims to evaluate malaria vector control to help eliminate malaria. Methods: This research was a qualitative evaluation study with selected informants. E-SISMAL in West Bangka Regency was studied and was analysed with Nvivo 12 Plus for Windows. The variables studied were context, input, process, and product. Focus groups, in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and photovoice were used to collect data. Results and Discussion: The area's topography, miner's behaviour, lack of manual vector reporting, and extensive ex-mining pits were discussed. Each evaluation variable was constrained by the process (supporting data collection and sub-variables) and product (data coverage of malaria vector control in E-SISMAL). Conclusion: It can be concluded that each evaluation variable constrains malaria vector control in West Bangka Regency.

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Mental Health Mobile Phone Application Review

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e504262016-001 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phone Application

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Mobile Phone Application for Supporting Persons with Higher Brain Dysfunctions

IEEJ Transactions on Electronics Information and Systems ◽

10.1541/ieejeiss.130.394 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 130 (3) ◽

pp. 394-400

Author(s):

Tsuyoshi Nakayama ◽

Yuka Miyaji ◽

Seishi Kato ◽

Nobuhisa Sakurada ◽

Noriyuki Ueda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phone Application

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A Novel Mobile Phone Application ( OptiBP) for Blood Pressure Monitoring

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04121624 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Blood Pressure Monitoring ◽

Pressure Monitoring ◽

Mobile Phone Application

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Malaria elimination in India requires additional surveillance mechanisms

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdab106 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Manju Rahi ◽

Payal Das ◽

Amit Sharma

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

Aggregated Data ◽

Malaria Burden ◽

The Core ◽

Reporting Systems ◽

Geographic Regions

Abstract Malaria surveillance is weak in high malaria burden countries. Surveillance is considered as one of the core interventions for malaria elimination. Impressive reductions in malaria-associated morbidity and mortality have been achieved across the globe, but sustained efforts need to be bolstered up to achieve malaria elimination in endemic countries like India. Poor surveillance data become a hindrance in assessing the progress achieved towards malaria elimination and in channelizing focused interventions to the hotspots. A major obstacle in strengthening India’s reporting systems is that the surveillance data are captured in a fragmented manner by multiple players, in silos, and is distributed across geographic regions. In addition, the data are not reported in near real-time. Furthermore, multiplicity of malaria data resources limits interoperability between them. Here, we deliberate on the acute need of updating India’s surveillance systems from the use of aggregated data to near real-time case-based surveillance. This will help in identifying the drivers of malaria transmission in any locale and therefore will facilitate formulation of appropriate interventional responses rapidly.

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Estimating the programmatic cost of targeted mass drug administration for malaria in Myanmar

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10842-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shwe Sin Kyaw ◽

Gilles Delmas ◽

Tom L. Drake ◽

Olivier Celhay ◽

Wirichada Pan-ngum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Administration ◽

Mass Drug Administration ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Unit Cost ◽

Financial Data ◽

Research Activities ◽

High Incidence ◽

Implementation Costs ◽

The Cost ◽

Greater Mekong Subregion

Abstract Background Mass drug administration (MDA) has received growing interest to accelerate the elimination of multi-drug resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Targeted MDA, sometimes referred to as focal MDA, is the practice of delivering MDA to high incidence subpopulations only, rather than the entire population. The potential effectiveness of delivering targeted MDA was demonstrated in a recent intervention in Kayin State, Myanmar. Policymakers and funders need to know what resources are required if MDA, targeted or otherwise, is to be included in elimination packages beyond existing malaria interventions. This study aims to estimate the programmatic cost and the unit cost of targeted MDA in Kayin State, Myanmar. Methods We used financial data from a malaria elimination initiative, conducted in Kayin State, to estimate the programmatic costs of the targeted MDA component using a micro-costing approach. Three activities (community engagement, identification of villages for targeted MDA, and conducting mass treatment in target villages) were evaluated. We then estimated the programmatic costs of implementing targeted MDA to support P. falciparum malaria elimination in Kayin State. A costing tool was developed to aid future analyses. Results The cost of delivering targeted MDA within an integrated malaria elimination initiative in eastern Kayin State was approximately US$ 910,000. The cost per person reached, distributed among those in targeted and non-targeted villages, for the MDA component was US$ 2.5. Conclusion This cost analysis can assist policymakers in determining the resources required to clear malaria parasite reservoirs. The analysis demonstrated the value of using financial data from research activities to predict programmatic implementation costs of targeting MDA to different numbers of target villages.

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