| Autor: |
Alberto Larocca, Roberto Moro Visconti, Michele Marconi |
| Jazyk: |
angličtina |
| Rok vydání: |
2016 |
| Předmět: |
|
| Zdroj: |
Malaria Journal, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2016) |
| Druh dokumentu: |
article |
| ISSN: |
1475-2875 |
| DOI: |
10.1186/s12936-016-1546-5 |
| Popis: |
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. |
| Databáze: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
| Externí odkaz: |
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