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

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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eHealth adoption and use among healthcare professionals in a tertiary hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Qmethodology study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6326 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e6326 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muhammad Awwal Ladan ◽

Heather Wharrad ◽

Richard Windle

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Clinical Practices ◽

Quality Healthcare ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Study Participants

Background The aim of the study was to explore the viewpoints of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the adoption and use of eHealth in clinical practice in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Information and communication technologies (ICTs) including eHealth provide HCPs the opportunity to provide quality healthcare to their patients while also improving their own clinical practices. Despite this, previous research has identified these technologies have their associated challenges when adopting them for clinical practice. But more research is needed to identify how these eHealth resources influence clinical practice. In addition, there is still little information about adoption and use of these technologies by HCPs inclinical practice in Sub-Saharan Africa. Method An exploratory descriptive design was adopted for this study. Thirty-six (36) HCPs (18 nurses and 18 physicians) working in the clinical area in a tertiary health institution in SSA participated in this study. Using Qmethodology, study participants rank-ordered forty-six statementsin relation to their adoption and use of eHealth within their clinical practice.This was analysed using by-person factor analysis and complemented with audio-taped interviews. Results The analysis yielded four factors i.e., distinct viewpoints the HCPs hold about adoption and use of eHealth within their clinical practice. These factors include: “Patient-focused eHealth advocates” who use the eHealth because they are motivated by patients and their families preferences; “Task-focused eHealth advocates” use eHealth because it helps them complete clinical tasks; “Traditionalistic-pragmatists” recognise contributions eHealth makes in clinical practice but separate from their routine clinical activities; and the “Tech-focused eHealth advocates” who use the eHealth because they are motivated by the technology itself. Conclusion The study shows the equivocal viewpoints that HCPs have about eHealth within their clinical practice. This, in addition to adding to existing literature, will help policymakers/decision makers to consider HCPs views about these technologies prior to implementing an eHealth resource.

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Unintended consequences of technology-enabled work activities experienced by healthcare professionals in tertiary hospitals of sub-Saharan Africa

African Journal of Science Technology Innovation and Development ◽

10.1080/20421338.2021.1899556 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Oluwamayowa Ogundaini ◽

Retha de la Harpe ◽

Nyx McLean

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Work Activities ◽

Tertiary Hospitals ◽

Sub Saharan

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Delivering water services during protracted armed conflicts: How development agencies can overcome barriers to collaboration with humanitarian actors

International Review of the Red Cross ◽

10.1017/s1816383120000077 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 101 (912) ◽

pp. 1067-1089

Author(s):

Edoardo Borgomeo

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Armed Conflicts ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Emergency Relief ◽

Organizational Goals ◽

Post Conflict ◽

Development Agencies ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractThis note discusses the challenges of water service delivery before, during and after protracted armed conflict, focusing on barriers that may impede successful transition from emergency to development interventions. The barriers are grouped according to three major contributing factors (three “C”s): culture (organizational goals and procedures), cash (financing practices) and capacity (know-how). By way of examples, the note explores ways in which development agencies can overcome these barriers during the three phases of a protracted armed conflict, using examples of World Bank projects and experiences in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Before the crisis, development agencies need to work to prevent armed conflict. In a situation of active armed conflict or when conflict escalates, development agencies need to remain engaged as much as possible, as this will speed up post-conflict recovery. When conflict subsides, development agencies need to balance the relative effort placed on providing urgently needed emergency relief and water supply and sanitation services with the effort placed on re-establishing sector oversight roles and capacity of local institutions to oversee and manage service delivery in the long term.

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Public-private cooperation and agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of Nigerian growth enhancement scheme and e-voucher program

Food Security ◽

10.1007/s12571-020-01130-y ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin ◽

Oreoluwa Ola ◽

Hannes Lang ◽

Gertrud Buchenrieder

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Living Standard ◽

Growth Enhancement ◽

Extension Services ◽

Voucher Program ◽

Economy Of Scale ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe Growth Enhancement Scheme and e-voucher program, rolled out across Nigeria in 2011 by the federal government, provided the institutional basis for private agro-dealers to engage in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer, improved seeds and extension services to farmers. However, the impact of this policy on different modes of extension service delivery is still missing in literature. We apply an Ordinary Least Squared and Difference-in-Difference methodology on the (2010 and 2012) Living Standard Measurement Study of the World Bank. The results suggest that extension visitations as well as public extension services positively influence farm revenue. Furthermore, a substantial increase in fertilizer expenditure by farmers was observed, due to the e-voucher program, which could have contributed to the improved agricultural output witnessed in Nigeria post-Growth Enhancement Scheme era. Governments across Sub-Saharan Africa should implement policies that harness the economy of scale and scope of the private sector as well as information and communication technologies in delivering on time and adequate agricultural inputs to farmers.

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E-Government Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development - Digital Access and E-Government ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-5868-4.ch019 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 297-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stephen M. Mutula ◽

Gbolahan Olasina

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Best Practices ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Good Governance ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Project Delivery ◽

Implementation Approach ◽

Sub Saharan

E-government if well implemented has the potential to reduce administrative bureaucracy and enhance development and service delivery. This chapter discusses strategies of e-government implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa and the implications for good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, accountability, integrity, and transparency. E-government in Sub-Saharan Africa is being undertaken in different administrative contexts and rationalities such as the need for reform, efficiency, and citizen-focus. An e-government implementation approach that facilitates and engenders the sharing of best practices, experiences, methods, and standards while reducing turnaround times and cost in project delivery would be desirable. This chapter is underpinned by UN e-government framework.

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Towards an Interactive E-Government System in Sub-Saharan Africa

Public Affairs and Administration ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8358-7.ch010 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 213-228

Author(s):

Charles Conteh ◽

Greg Smith

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Communication Technology ◽

Content Management ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Electronic Government ◽

Electronic Service ◽

Enterprise Content Management ◽

Future Challenges ◽

Key Issues ◽

Sub Saharan

Governments worldwide, including those in Africa, are embracing the promises and prospects of electronic service delivery (or e-government). In particular, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are moving towards adopting system-wide Integrated Communication Technology (ICT) and Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems to support Electronic Government (EG) services. There are reasons to believe that Africa stands at the threshold of a new experience in this century, but there are also considerable challenges ahead. This chapter examines some of the prospects and challenges of the continent's adoption of Electronic Government. The discussion focuses on the rationale and characteristics of e-government in Africa, as well as its strengths and weaknesses, with particular reference to two countries in the region – Ghana and Kenya. The chapter concludes with a synopsis of some of the key issues as well as salient lessons to highlight the broader future challenges and prospects of e-government in Africa.

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The Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Health Service Delivery in Namibia

E-Agriculture and E-Government for Global Policy Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-820-8.ch012 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 191-206

Author(s):

Meke I. Shivute ◽

Blessing M. Maumbe

Keyword(s):

Health Service ◽

Health Services ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Health Service Delivery ◽

Health Service Providers ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Sub Saharan

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed health service delivery (HSD) in developing countries although the benefits are not yet fully understood. This chapter examines the use of ICT for HSD in the Namibian context. To obtain insights into the extent and degree of the current ICT uses, the chapter begins by mapping a HSD landscape for Namibia. The reported ICT use patterns are based on a primary survey of 134 patients and key informant interviews held with 27 health service providers (HSPs) in Khomas and Oshana regions of Namibia. The results from the survey indicate that Namibian patients use diverse range of ICT to access health services including the traditional television and radio, and the more modern mobile phones and computers to a limited extent. HSPs reported the growing use of ICT in various functional areas such as admissions, clinical support, family planning, maternity, and emergency services. The chapter identifies key challenges and policy implications to enhance the uptake of ICT-based health services in Namibia. The relatively high penetration rates of traditional ICT such as televisions and radios coupled with a growing use of mobile phones presents new alternative opportunities for expanding HSD to Namibian patients in remote settings. The chapter will benefit HSP and patients as they decide on affordable technology choices; and policy makers as they design interventions to stimulate the use of ICT in HSD in Namibia. The results provide key insights for other Sub-Saharan African countries contemplating ICT integration in health services.

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AVU's Experience in Increasing Access to Quality Higher Education through e-Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa

Multiple Literacy and Science Education ◽

10.4018/978-1-61520-690-2.ch010 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 165-179

Author(s):

Bakary Diallo ◽

Sidiki Traoré ◽

Therrezinha Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Developing Nations ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Governmental Organization ◽

Tertiary Institutions ◽

Face To Face ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Open Education Resources

Universities and other tertiary institutions in developing nations around the world are facing major challenges in meeting the demand for increasing access to higher education (HE): limitations imposed by inadequate funding, poor infrastructure and sometimes lack of political vision, added to the demographic explosion, make it almost impossible for some of these developing nations to ensure access to all to higher education solely through the conventional face-to-face mode. In this context, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are providing an alternative to face-to-face education. Moreover, they have the potential to significantly increase access to quality higher education, improve management of tertiary institutions, increase access to educational resources through digital libraries and open education resources, foster collaboration and networking between universities, foster collaboration between the private sector and tertiary institutions, enhance sub-regional and regional integration and facilitate the mobility of teachers and graduates. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the African Virtual University (AVU), a Pan African Inter-Governmental Organization initially launched in Washington in 1997 as a World Bank project, works with a number of countries toward reaching the goal of increasing access to quality higher education and training programmes through the use of ICTs. The AVU has been the first-of-itskind in this regard to serve the Sub-Saharan African countries. In this chapter, the AVU’s twelve years experience in delivering and improving access to quality higher distance education throughout Africa will be discussed. The AVU has trained more than 40,000 students since its inception; this is the proof that it is possible to achieve democratization of tertiary education in Africa despite many challenges.

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