mHealth is a term that means “mobile health,” as in harnessing the power of wireless technology to support healthcare provision, research or education. The infrastructure for mhealth is already in place as there are over 4.1 billion cell phones in the world.
Within the larger field of global health, mhealth efforts may have the most potential for impact within community-oriented programming, due to the "off site" and sometimes remote nature of public health work designed to reach underserved populations. CORE Group convened this "mhealth community of practice” in response to interest in community-level applications that can increase quality, equity scale and/or sustainability of health efforts. The goal: measurable impact on the health of underserved women and children in low- and middle-income countries.
As part of our larger Community Health Network, this interest group is a place where ideas, experience, and expertise converge. Health program implementers and researchers work together to identify needs and gaps, brainstorm solutions, present data, share insights and lessons learned, and engage in dialog with a range of participants, including scholars, advocates, policymakers, donors, multilateral representatives, and the private sector, including technology groups.
Experiences from the field
The Institute for Reproductive Health created an SMS-based family planning application based on the standard days method. Women in India tested it, with positive results. IRH captured concise program design and implementation lessons: Cycle-Tel in India: From Proof of Concept to Deployment.
Recent mHealth Interest Group Items of Note
Discussion on Types of Cell Phones in the Field: A recent listserv discussion: community health workers and higher-end cell phones vs. lower-end phones
Our mHealth fact sheet: A two-page introduction to mHealth, from the perspective of the field of Community Health.
Fundamentals of mHealth debate: A recent listserv discussion: interventions? architecture? platforms? As a new field, basic issues of approach are still under debate.
Lessons from m-Health Projects: The Tech is the Easy Part: Thirteen practical lessons to guide organizations developing m-health projects.
Publications
Exploring Health-related Uses of Mobile Phones: An Egyptian Case Study by Patricia Mechael
The Soul Beat: Mobiles for Development in Africa. Issue #157. Eighteen links to project descriptions and publications.
Resources
ICT4CHW A google group focused on mobile technology for community health workers. Veiw content via the link, and/or sign up for the listserv.
ICT4D "How CRS uses information and communications technology for development." Includes a short video on work in India and Niger, and a link to a project in Tanzania.
K4Health mHealth Toolkit. A wealth of mHealth resources addressing specific health issues (including reproductive health/family planning, HIV, malaria) and cross-cutting perspectives (including data collection and behavior change).
Kiwanja.net "Where technology meets anthropology, conservation and development," including news, projects, blog, links.
mHealth Summit Hosted by the Foundation for NIH, health professionals, IT experts and foundations converged at USAID to share experiences, tools and ideas. Visit the website to see presentations and resources. Upcoming meeting: November 8-10, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
Mobile Active A global network of people using mobile technology for social impact. Includes specific telecommunications data by country
NetHope A network of international humanitarian organizations working together to develop common products and platforms.
UNF mHealth Alliance An umbrella organization to complement, draw together and expand upon the mHealth initiatives of multiple organizations around the world.
Platforms, tools, companies relevant to community-level programming
Childcount "Empowering communities to improve child and maternal health." Developed by the Millenium Villages Project.
D-Tree "Bringing evidence-based medicine to frontline healthworkers." Experienced in supporting healthworkers with mobile clinical protocols.
Dimagi A range of mobile health products, including case management and data collection tools for use in low resource settings.
Episurveyor "Data collection on mobile phones made incredibly simple" by Datadyne "Sustainable information technologies to benefit the world's neediest people."
Frontline SMS "Allows you to text message with large groups" and Frontline SMS Medic
Ushahidi "Crowdsourcing. Information collection, visualization and interactive mapping."