A comparative review of mobile health and electronic health utilization in sub-Saharan African countries
Abstract
This study distinguished between the application of e-health and m-health technologies in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries based on the dimensions of use, targeted diseases or health conditions, locations of use, and beneficiaries (types of patients or health workers) in a country specific context. It further characterized the main opportunities and challenges associated with these dimensions across the sub-region. A systematic review of the literature was conducted on 66 published peer reviewed articles. The review followed the scientific process of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines of identification, selection, assessment, synthesis and interpretation of findings. The results of the study showed that m-health was prevalent in usage for promoting information for treatment and prevention of diseases as well as serving as an effective technology for reminders towards adherence. For e-health, the uniqueness lay in data acquisition and patients' records management; diagnosis; training and recruitment. While m-health was never used for monitoring or training and recruitment, e-health on the other hand could not serve the purpose of reminders or for reporting cases from the field. Both technologies were however useful for adherence, diagnosis, disease control mechanisms, information provision, and decision-making/referrals. HIV/AIDS, malaria, and maternal (postnatal and antenatal) healthcare were important in both m-healt…
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Telemedicine in middle eastern countries: progress, barriers, and policy recommendations
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Self-citationTelemedicine use in Sub-Saharan Africa: Barriers and policy recommendations for Covid-19 and beyond
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“Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have witnessed some improvement in healthcare provision through the use of telemedicine [1].”
BackgroundSelf-citation
- Authors
- Bervell, B., & Al-Samarraie, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Cape Coast (GH)
- Venue
- Social Science & Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-07
- Volume
- 232
- Pages
- 1-16
- ISSN
- 0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2940642480
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 1.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Health, Technology, Consumer Behavior
- Keywords
- mobile health, e-health, sub-Saharan Africa, health technology utilization, HIV/AIDS, malaria, maternal health, health information provision, medical records management, rural health care
- MeSH terms
- Clinical Decision-Making, Smartphone, Communicable Disease Control, Health Workforce, Health Promotion, Humans, Inservice Training, Patient Compliance, Preventive Health Services, Referral and Consultation, Telemedicine, Africa South of the Sahara, Electronic Health Records
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