Malaria diagnosis and mapping with m-Health and geographic information systems (GIS): evidence from Uganda.

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Malaria diagnosis and mapping with m-Health and geographic information systems (GIS): evidence from Uganda.

Malar J. 2016 Oct 24;15(1):520

Authors: Larocca A, Moro Visconti R, Marconi M

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rural populations experience several barriers to accessing clinical facilities for malaria diagnosis. Increasing penetration of ICT and mobile-phones and subsequent m-Health applications can contribute overcoming such obstacles.
METHODS: GIS is used to evaluate the feasibility of m-Health technologies as part of anti-malaria strategies. This study investigates where in Uganda: (1) malaria affects the largest number of people; (2) the application of m-Health protocol based on the mobile network has the highest potential impact.
RESULTS: About 75% of the population affected by Plasmodium falciparum malaria have scarce access to healthcare facilities. The introduction of m-Health technologies should be based on the 2G protocol, as 3G mobile network coverage is still limited. The western border and the central-Southeast are the regions where m-Health could reach the largest percentage of the remote population. Six districts (Arua, Apac, Lira, Kamuli, Iganga, and Mubende) could have the largest benefit because they account for about 28% of the remote population affected by falciparum malaria with access to the 2G mobile network.
CONCLUSIONS: The application of m-Health technologies could improve access to medical services for distant populations. Affordable remote malaria diagnosis could help to decongest health facilities, reducing costs and contagion. The combination of m-Health and GIS could provide real-time and geo-localized data transmission, improving anti-malarial strategies in Uganda. Scalability to other countries and diseases looks promising.

PMID: 27776516 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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Categories: Health

Tags: m-Health