Report - Mobile Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Case of AppLab Uganda

This report explores the preliminary lessons in the use of mobile phones to promote access to health care information in Uganda. The project under study is the AppLab Uganda Project which operates a Health Tips application, educating users on sexual and reproductive health. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with project developers, partners, medical practitioners and participants involved in the pilot study of the project.

Findings tend to suggest the need to access health information via mobile text messages is mediated by cost incentives, immediacy of information, and content presentation. There are questions concerning the appropriateness of text messaging as compared to using voice calls access health information. These issues have implications on the objectives of the health care project and the individual strategies of project partners. Preliminary conclusions emphasize the need to add 'fun' and instant rewards to accessing information to sustain interest of potential users. Read and Watch Multimedia Case Study

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Authors: Boateng, R., Mbarika, V., Waswa, B., Isabalija, S.R., Simpson, L., Wu, B. and Price, S. (2010). Mobile Phones in Health care in Sub-Saharan Africa – The Case of AppLab Uganda, PC Tech Magazine's Conversations on Technology, Business and Society, Issue 5, pp. 16-22.