mHealth is saving stroke patients in Africa, but infrastructure gaps and costs threaten to cut the connection


 Cardiovascular diseases including stroke are rising sharply across Africa placing immense strain on already overburdened healthcare systems. A new scoping review covering over a decade of research highlights mobile health as a critical lifeline for managing these conditions. By utilizing smartphone apps and simple SMS messaging services providers have been able to support post event care and improve medication adherence for stroke survivors. However, the review warns that the potential of this technology is currently limited by significant barriers. Low digital literacy among rural populations and the high cost of data access frequently prevent patients from maintaining the connection with their care teams. The authors conclude that for mobile health to truly scale policymakers must prioritize upgrading digital infrastructure and designing cost effective low bandwidth interventions that work on basic phones not just smartphones.

Read the original article at: http://heart.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/112/2/65?rss=1


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