Article section
Digital Health Innovations in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Barriers to Adoption
Abstract
Digital health technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery in developing countries by improving access, reducing costs, and enhancing the quality of services. However, the adoption of these innovations is often hindered by infrastructural, socio-economic, and political challenges. This paper explores the opportunities presented by digital health technologies, including mobile health (mHealth), telemedicine, and electronic health records (EHR), and examines the key barriers to their adoption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Drawing on recent research, the paper also suggests strategies to overcome these barriers, providing a roadmap for policymakers and healthcare providers seeking to integrate digital health solutions into healthcare systems.
Article information
Journal
Frontiers in Global Health Sciences
Volume (Issue)
3 (1)
Pages
1-12
Published
Copyright
Copyright (c) 2024 Abols Sherry (Author)
Open access
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Alami, H., Rivard, L., Lehoux, P., Hoffman, S. J., & Côté-Boileau, É. (2021). Telemedicine in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Evolution, Use, and International Comparisons. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(10), e25993. https://doi.org/10.2196/25993
Chib, A., van Velthoven, M. H., & Car, J. (2021). mHealth adoption in low-resource environments: A review of the use of mobile healthcare in developing countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 230. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010230
De la Torre Díez, I., González García, N., García-Zapirain, B., López-Coronado, M., & Rodrigues, J. J. (2021). Analysis of the implementation of electronic health records in developing countries. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 115, 103592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103592
Dixon, P. A., Jones, A., & Ezeanochie, N. (2019). Health information systems in low-resource settings: Barriers to adoption and effective use. Healthcare, 7(2), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7020037
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2020). Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures 2020. International Telecommunication Union. https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210059718
Kayonga, E., Uwamahoro, D., Uwizeye, C. B., & Habimana, R. (2021). Electronic health records implementation in low-resource settings: Lessons learned from Rwanda. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(8), e105138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2020.105138
LeFevre, A. E., Shah, N., Bashingwa, J., et al. (2020). Quality and reach of mHealth interventions for maternal, newborn, and child health in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review of the literature. The Lancet Global Health, 8(9), e1124-e1135. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30214-9
Lester, R. T., Ritvo, P., Mills, E. J., et al. (2021). mHealth for HIV prevention and treatment adherence: A systematic review. BMC Medicine, 19, 10213. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-021-02013-7
Martinez, M., Prieto, J. D., & Kirigia, J. M. (2020). Digital health in Africa: Integrating technology into health systems to improve care. Global Environmental Change, 28(4), 373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.100373
Muzigaba, M., Chinula, L., & Nlooto, M. (2020). Improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in South Africa using mHealth: The case of MomConnect. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(12), e110007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2019.110007
Odhiambo, D., Wambugu, S., & Wagura, L. (2021). Addressing the socio-cultural barriers to digital health adoption in low-resource settings. Journal of Medical Informatics Research, 24(3), 103787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2020.103787
Patel, P., Tahir, S., & Ngugi, A. (2020). Evaluating the use of telemedicine in low-income settings during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(7), e103127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2020.103127
Smith, C., Davis, J., & Albright, P. (2019). Digital health adoption in Africa: The role of regulatory frameworks in accelerating innovation. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 3859. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-3859-3
World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025. World Health Organization. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102173
Zachariah, R., Ford, N., Philips, M., et al. (2019). Task-shifting in HIV care: The role of mHealth in improving healthcare access in resource-limited settings. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(4), e010234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2018.010234