Mobile Health in Uganda: A Case Study of the Medical Concierge Group

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Louis H. Kamulegeya ◽  
Joseph Ssebwana ◽  
Wilson Abigaba ◽  
John M. Bwanika ◽  
Davis Musinguzi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Health Content

  The ubiquity of mobile phones offers an opportunity for a paradigm change in health-care delivery, which may offer solutions to some of the challenges faced by the health sector in Uganda. The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) is a digital health company, headquartered in Uganda, which leverages on mobile phone-based platforms – such as short messaging service (SMS), voice calling – and social media to deliver health services. Just over two-thirds (68%) of users of TMCG’s services are males between 18 and 30 years of age. SMS reminders have improved the honouring of health facility appointments among HIV-positive clients, from 60% to 90%; retention rates at supported health facilities have improved from 45% to 89%. Furthermore, information dissemination has been achieved via mobile SMS, wherein subscribers can access health content on diverse topics – such as HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning – by sending messages to a pre-defined short code to a phone line. Over 900 beneficiaries have accessed health content via SMS subscriptions. Social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, are used for health information dissemination and have enabled a wider reach to over 13 million beneficiaries accessing health information on TMCG’s Facebook page alone. Tailoring mobile phone-based health content to meet the target beneficiaries’ needs is critical for TMCG’s impact and uptake. With rising rates of phone ownership and Internet connectivity in Uganda, mobile phones offer an affordable and proven adoptable avenue to overcome the chronic challenges faced by the health sector.

Mobile Health in Uganda: A Case Study of the Medical Concierge Group

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Louis H. Kamulegeya ◽  
Joseph Ssebwana ◽  
Wilson Abigaba ◽  
John M. Bwanika ◽  
Davis Musinguzi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Health Content

  The ubiquity of mobile phones offers an opportunity for a paradigm change in health-care delivery, which may offer solutions to some of the challenges faced by the health sector in Uganda. The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) is a digital health company, headquartered in Uganda, which leverages on mobile phone-based platforms – such as short messaging service (SMS), voice calling – and social media to deliver health services. Just over two-thirds (68%) of users of TMCG’s services are males between 18 and 30 years of age. SMS reminders have improved the honouring of health facility appointments among HIV-positive clients, from 60% to 90%; retention rates at supported health facilities have improved from 45% to 89%. Furthermore, information dissemination has been achieved via mobile SMS, wherein subscribers can access health content on diverse topics – such as HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning – by sending messages to a pre-defined short code to a phone line. Over 900 beneficiaries have accessed health content via SMS subscriptions. Social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, are used for health information dissemination and have enabled a wider reach to over 13 million beneficiaries accessing health information on TMCG’s Facebook page alone. Tailoring mobile phone-based health content to meet the target beneficiaries’ needs is critical for TMCG’s impact and uptake. With rising rates of phone ownership and Internet connectivity in Uganda, mobile phones offer an affordable and proven adoptable avenue to overcome the chronic challenges faced by the health sector.

scholarly journals Mobile Health in Uganda: A Case Study of the Medical Concierge Group

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Louis H. Kamulegeya ◽  
Joseph Ssebwana ◽  
Wilson Abigaba ◽  
John M. Bwanika ◽  
Davis Musinguzi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Health Content

  The ubiquity of mobile phones offers an opportunity for a paradigm change in health-care delivery, which may offer solutions to some of the challenges faced by the health sector in Uganda. The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) is a digital health company, headquartered in Uganda, which leverages on mobile phone-based platforms – such as short messaging service (SMS), voice calling – and social media to deliver health services. Just over two-thirds (68%) of users of TMCG’s services are males between 18 and 30 years of age. SMS reminders have improved the honouring of health facility appointments among HIV-positive clients, from 60% to 90%; retention rates at supported health facilities have improved from 45% to 89%. Furthermore, information dissemination has been achieved via mobile SMS, wherein subscribers can access health content on diverse topics – such as HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning – by sending messages to a pre-defined short code to a phone line. Over 900 beneficiaries have accessed health content via SMS subscriptions. Social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, are used for health information dissemination and have enabled a wider reach to over 13 million beneficiaries accessing health information on TMCG’s Facebook page alone. Tailoring mobile phone-based health content to meet the target beneficiaries’ needs is critical for TMCG’s impact and uptake. With rising rates of phone ownership and Internet connectivity in Uganda, mobile phones offer an affordable and proven adoptable avenue to overcome the chronic challenges faced by the health sector.

scholarly journals Patterns of Mobile Phone Ownership and Use Among Pregnant Women in Southern Tanzania: Cross-Sectional Survey

10.2196/17122 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e17122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lavanya Vasudevan ◽  
Jan Ostermann ◽  
Sara Marwerwe Moses ◽  
Esther Ngadaya ◽  
Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Phone Calls

Background There is a paucity of subnational data on patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in Tanzania to inform the development of digital health interventions. Objective The aim of this study is to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in pregnant women to inform the feasibility and design of digital health interventions for promoting timely uptake of childhood vaccines in southern Tanzania. Methods Between August and November 2017, pregnant women in their third trimester were enrolled at health facilities and from surrounding communities, and asked about their patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in an interviewer administered survey. Results Of 406 women, only 3 had never used a phone. Most women (>98%) could make and receive phone calls. Compared to urban women, rural women reported higher mobile phone use rates but were less likely to be sole owners of phones, and less likely to send or receive SMS, transact money, browse the internet, or use social media via mobile phones. Conclusions The findings suggest high feasibility for digital health interventions delivered via mobile phones to pregnant women in southern Tanzania. The feasibility of smartphone-based interventions or strategies relying on the use of social media or the internet is limited.

Analysis of Social Media Messaging for Health Promotion by the CDC from 2018 to2019 in Guangzhou, China (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weisi Liu ◽  
Xiaowei Ma
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Popular Science ◽  
Health Organizations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Popularization ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Multiple Factor

BACKGROUND As Internet use becomes increasingly widespread, mobile devices, such as mobile phones, have become the most important channel for many people to obtain information. The number of Chinese mobile phone users has reached 1.28 billion, with more than 90% of usersaccessing social media via the mobile application WeChat. As an increasinglyubiquitous app in China, WeChat had1.04 billion monthly active users worldwide by the first quarter of 2018.[1,2]A recent national survey in China found that one-third of participants regularly read health education articles on WeChat, and 98.53% of participants choose to useWeChat for health information seeking, indicatingthatWeChat is the most popularplatform for health information acquisition in China.[3]“Everyone is the media and everyone has a microphone” in theInternet era,and the rapiddevelopment of communications technologyhas playedan increasingly important role in information dissemination. WeChat is the most popular social media platform in China, and 93% of residents in major Chinese cities are reported to log into WeChatdaily. Social media platforms, particularly WeChat, arewidely utilized by health organizations, and are fast becoming the principal instruments of alternative communication channels fordelivering health messages, conducting disease surveillance, spreading health awareness, and communicatingabout public health issues to the public.WeChat has emerged as a powerful platform with several advantages compared with more traditional communication channels, and has proven to be a cost-effective tool for the dissemination of health messages, capable of reaching minority groupsto improve public health interventions. In recent years, there has been increasing public interest in searching for online health information related to health problems. Evidence from local studies has reportedthat members of thepublic perceive information provided online to be useful and reliable, a perception that leads many peopleto consult with health care practitioners about their health conditions directly through social media. Growing online health-seeking behaviors and the increasing numbers of non-authorized health websites or social media accounts sharingbiasedor inaccurate health information involvingconflicts of interest have made it necessary for health organizations to engage with internet users on social media in a strategic way.[4]To adapt to the reading habits of the public in the Internet era, various institutions have utilized the new forms of media as important channels for government propaganda and the provision of services. WeChat is a new form of media,utilizing mobile phones as terminals, enabling instantaneous and social communication. WeChat is an important platform for audiences to obtain government information. At present, the daily search volume of medical and health problems from online has reached 60 million. A report published by the Ministry of Science Popularization of the Chinese Association of Science and Technology and the Institute of Science Popularization of China titled“Big Data of Internet Popular Science Reading 2017”reported that the popular science articles read most often by citizensin 2017 werethose focused on health and medical treatment. [3] The Guangzhou Centerfor Disease Controland Prevention(GZCDC) i-Health is anofficial WeChat account operated by the GZCDC, officially opened in April 2018. The postspublished via this account are mainly original, focusing on health tips and popular science. Because of differences in functionality between WeChat and other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, similar studies of social media are not generalizable to WeChat. Thus,specific investigations of the effectiveness of WeChat for health promotion are important.In the current study, posts published between April 2018 and April 2019 were analyzed to understand the public demand for the official CDC WeChat account, and to provide scientific evidence toinform the development of better communication strategies. OBJECTIVE To analyze the datapublished by the official Guangzhou Centerfor Disease Controland Prevention (GZCDC) i-Health WeChat account and explore the factors influencing theeffectsoninformation dissemination, soasto improve the effectiveness of health information dissemination. METHODS Data were collected from the official Guangzhou i-Health WeChat account between 1 April 2018 and 30April 2019. Descriptive analysiswas performed for the basic information regarding the WeChat account and its posts. Multiple-factor logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between various factors of posts on engagementof followers, and the impact of the WeChat account was examined usingadjusted odds ratios (AOR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the variables. RESULTS Thetotal numbers of page views, shares, likes, adds to favorites, and comments for213 posts were 1147308, 84671, 10973, 5535 and 1865, respectively, from 187033followers.The engagement of followers peaked on the dissemination date and gradually declined. The main post topicswere health education posts and original posts, and 46.48% of 213posts were reposted by other official WeChat accounts.In a multiple-factor logistic regression model, the number of page viewswas found to be significantly associated withinfectious disease posts (AOR:3.20 95%CI: 1.16–8.81), original posts (AOR:10.20, 95%CI:1.17–89.28), and posts that could be judged from the title (AOR:2.93,95%CI:1.16–8.81). Vaccine-relatedevent posts (AOR:15.78, 95%CI:3.39–73.42), child and adolescent health posts (AOR:17.33, 95%CI:1.50–200.31), environmental health posts (AOR:7.94, 95%CI:1.90–33.21), chronic disease posts(AOR:4.05, 95%CI:1.18–13.45),nutrition and food-borne diseaseposts(AOR:3.91, 95%CI:1.25–12.20), infectious disease posts (AOR:3.86, 95%CI:1.36–10.98),original posts (AOR:10.22, 95%CI:1.06–98.85), posts focused on current events (AOR:3.04, 95%CI=1.36–6.76) and headline posts (AOR:5.48, 95%CI:1.14–26.41) were positively associated with being reposted by other official WeChat accounts. CONCLUSIONS Content is the most important factor in the effectiveness of official WeChat accounts at GZCDC institutions, and should be focused on health tips and popular science articles, while enhancing interactions with the public.

Mobile Phone Purchasing and Brand Presence on Facebook

2019 ◽  
pp. 643-660
Author(s):  
Barry Ardley ◽  
Jialin Hardwick ◽  
Lauriane Delarue ◽  
Nick Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Online Advertising ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Consumer Decision Making ◽  
Consumer Decision ◽  
Decision Sequence ◽  
Group Interviews

Focusing on the mobile phones sector, this study explores how the social networking site ‘Facebook' is used by consumers in their purchasing. Although there is extensive work on the influences on the buying decision process relevant to mobile phone purchasing, it is mainly set outside of a social media context. This paper assists in filling a gap in contemporary research, revealing the presence of different behavioural segments on Facebook. The authors analyse the consumer decision sequence in response to the notion of ‘brand presence', manifested through online advertising, fan and group pages. The approach is interpretative. The study is based on young professional user's experiences, collected through semi-structured individual and focus group interviews. The findings show that Facebook fan pages are shown to have a degree of influence, particularly in the early stages of buying behaviour. In this context, five novel behavioural segments of consumer interactions with Smartphone brands on Facebook have been identified by the research. These are the Avoider, the Suspicious, the Passive, the Receptive, and the Active. Future research of cross comparative studies could be taken on the issues the authors examine and consider them in relation to not only Facebook, but additionally, to other social network sites. Companies could utilise the findings in the future development of social media strategy. The research highlights the socially networked and collective nature of much activity on Facebook, which impacts on the consumer decision-making process for mobile phones.

Broadband for Health in Developing Countries

2011 ◽  
pp. 581-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aradhana Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Policy Direction ◽  
Immense Potential

This chapter highlights the major issues in the use of broadband technologies in health care in developing countries. The use of Internet technologies in the health sector has immense potential in developing countries, especially in the context of public health programs. Some of the main uses of information and communication technologies (ICT) in health include remote consultations and diagnosis, information dissemination and networking between health providers, user groups, and forums, Internet-based disease surveillance and identification of target groups for health interventions, facilitation of health research and support to health care delivery, and administration. The technology has immense potential, but is also constrained by lack of policy direction, problems with access to technology, and lack of suitable infrastructure in developing nations. However, given its crucial role in public health, comprehensive efforts are required from all concerned stakeholders if universal e-health is to become a reality.

The Changing Nature of Health Information Dissemination through the Role of Social Media

2013 ◽  
Vol 411-414 ◽  
pp. 110-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Dumbrell ◽  
Robert Steele
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Public Health Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Information Sources

Traditional forms of health information dissemination have previously involved a few key organizations originating health-related information and disseminating this to clinicians and the community. This information was typically disseminated via private, formalized and non-digital interactions between health information sources (HIS) and clinicians and consumers. With the introduction of the Internet, Web-based health information dissemination led to some changes with greater availability of online health information. However the recent adoption and uptake of social media has led to many more parties, both organizations of varying types, and individuals, participating in public health information dissemination; and this has also led to new forms of sharing health-related information, particularly involving a greater role for individuals. In this paper we introduce empirical findings in relation to how organizations and individuals are now using social media for sharing health information, and from this suggest themes to describe the changes from traditional to contemporary health information dissemination, as well as the new emerging roles and forms of interaction for health information dissemination.

scholarly journals Pemanfaatan media sosial untuk pencarian dan komunikasi informasi kesehatan

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Rosini Rosini ◽  
Siti Nurningsih
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Health Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Age Range

Introduction. This study aims to determine the utilization of social media based on the framework of  health information seeking behavior and information dissemination. Data collection method. The study used survey with  social media users as population by using  nonprobability sampling. Analysis data. The survey data was processed by using  SPSS program for further descriptive analysis.  Results and discussions. Our results showed that  social media users were  dominated by female (age range 45-50 years old)  with “married” as their status. Their highest level of education was D4 (Diploma) and S1 (undergraduate). They used WhatsApp (85.8%), YouTube (84.9%), Wikipedia (84%), Facebook (80.5%), Blogger (73.4%), Instagram (64.6%), Google+ (61%), and Wordpress (58.4%). The reasons for seeking health information through  media were several facilities such to share, to give comment, to create conversation, to tag topics, and to upload photos. Other reasons were “all of my friends use it”, “the display is convenient to use”, and “have notifications”. Conclusions. Our results concludes that patterns of social media use was active seeking information related to health with less sharing information to others.

scholarly journals Digital Health and Inequalities in Access to Health Services in Bangladesh: Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/16473 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e16473
Author(s):  
Tanvir Ahmed ◽  
Syed Jafar Raza Rizvi ◽  
Sabrina Rasheed ◽  
Mohammad Iqbal ◽  
Abbas Bhuiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Technical Skill ◽  
Integrating Technology ◽  
Access To Health

Background Globally, the rapid growth of technology and its use as a development solution has generated much interest in digital health. In line with global trends, Bangladesh is also integrating technology into its health system to address disparities. Strong political endorsement and uptake of digital platforms by the government has influenced the rapid proliferation of such initiatives in the country. This paper aims to examine the implications of digital health on access to health care in Bangladesh, considering who uses electronic devices to access health information and services and why. Objective This study aims to understand how access to health care and related information through electronic means (digital health) is affected by sociodemographic determinants (ie, age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and personal and household ownership of mobile phones) in a semiurban community in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 854 households (between October 2013 and February 2014) and 20 focus group discussions (between February 2017 and March 2017) were conducted to understand (1) who owns electronic devices; (2) who, among the owners, uses these to access health information and services and why; (3) the awareness of electronic sources of health information; and (4) the role of intermediaries (family members or peers who helped to look for health information using electronic devices). Results A total of 90.3% (771/854) of households (471/854, 55.2% of respondents) owned electronic devices, mostly mobile phones. Among these, 7.2% (34/471) used them to access health information or services. Middle-aged (35-54 years), female, less (or not) educated, and poorer people used these devices the least (α=.05, α is the level of significance). The lack of awareness, discomfort, differences with regular care-seeking habits, lack of understanding and skills, and proximity to a health facility were the main reasons for not using devices to access digital health. Conclusions Although influenced by sociodemographic traits, access to digital health is not merely related to device ownership and technical skill. Rather, it is a combination of general health literacy, phone ownership, material resources, and technical skill as well as social recognition of health needs and inequity. This study’s findings should serve as a basis for better integrating technology within the health system and ensuring equitable access to health care.

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