Access to mobile health in lower middle-income countries: a review
Adam Poulsen, Ian B. Hickie, Mafruha Alam, Chloe Wilson, Haley M LaMonica
Abstract
Abstract Purpose Mobile health (or mHealth) presents an opportunity to advance health equity through health promotion, health data collection, personal medical information access, and clinical decision-making support. However, access to mHealth solutions in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a challenge, requiring an understanding of the context in which mHealth interventions are implemented to promote access and success. This work aims to identify themes describing shared, key aspects currently affecting mHealth access in LMICs with comparable income levels and mobile connectivity across different geographic regions, asking: ‘What is the current mHealth landscape in LMICs?’. Methods To address this question, this work presents a narrative review of the literature relating to three select LMICs– Papua New Guinea (PNG), Uzbekistan, and Cameroon. Results Here, three themes are developed to encapsulate shared, key mHealth access characteristics: (1) Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure, Development, and Policy, (2) Internet and Mobile Phone Accessibility, and (3) mHealth Innovation and Initiatives. Conclusions The findings of this review create an understanding of the state of the art and have implications for research addressing mHealth access in PNG, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon going forward.