PLoS Medicine
(Accessed 26 February 2012)
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/browse.action?field=date

Mobile Phone Text Messaging: Tool for Malaria Control in Africa
Dejan Zurovac, Ambrose O. Talisuna, Robert W. Snow Essay, published 21 Feb 2012
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001176

Summary Points
– Across many malaria-endemic areas in rural Africa, the communication gap between managers, health workers, and patients is a significant barrier to efficient malaria control.

– The rapid expansion of mobile network coverage and the widespread availability of basic handsets have the potential to substantively bridge the communication gap.

– Text messaging, as the least-expensive mobile phone function found on all handsets, could improve the delivery of health services and health outcomes.

– Six major areas of malaria control in which deficiencies are apparent and text messaging interventions could be beneficial are: (1) disease and treatment effectiveness surveillance, (2) monitoring of the availability of health commodities, (3) pharmacovigilance and post-marketing surveillance of the safety and quality of antimalarial drugs, (4) health worker adherence to guidelines, (5) patient adherence to medication regimens, and (6) post-treatment review.

– Text messages transmitting information from the periphery of the health systems to malaria control managers are in the first three malaria control areas: (1) disease and treatment effectiveness surveillance, (2) monitoring of the availability of health commodities, and (3) pharmacovigilance and post-marketing surveillance of the safety and quality of antimalarial medicines. Future projects in these three areas should demonstrate responses to data signals and comparative advantages with routine information systems.

– Text messages in the second three areas transmit information to health workers and patients to support the management of malaria patients by improving (4) health workers’ adherence to guidelines, (5) patient adherence to medicines, and (6) post-treatment review. Future priorities in these areas are cost-effectiveness evaluations, qualitative research, and studies measuring impact on the processes of care and health outcomes.