Larissa Jennings|Laina Gagliardi
Influence of mhealth interventions on gender relations in developing countries: a systematic literature review
Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University
research shown mhealth initiatives health programs enhanced mobile phone technologies foster womens empowerment yet growing concern mobilebased programs geared towards women may exacerbate gender inequalities systematic literature review conducted examine empirical evidence changes men womens interactions result mhealth interventions eligible studies published english 2002 2012 conducted developing country included evaluation mobile health intervention presented findings resultant dynamics women men search strategy comprised four electronic bibliographic databases addition manual review reference lists relevant articles review organizational websites journals recent mhealth publications methodological rigor selected studies appraised two independent reviewers also abstracted data studys characteristics iterative thematic analyses used synthesize findings relating gendertransformative nontransformative experiences 173 articles retrieved review seven articles met inclusion criteria retained final analysis mhealth interventions smsbased conducted subsaharan africa topics relating hivaids sexual reproductive health healthbased microenterprise noncommunicable diseases several methodological limitations identified among eligible quantitative qualitative studies current literature suggests mobile phone programs influence gender relations meaningfully positive ways providing new modes couples health communication cooperation enabling greater male participation health areas typically targeted towards women mhealth initiatives also increased womens decisionmaking social status access health resources however programmatic experiences design may inadvertently reinforce digital divide perpetuate existing genderbased power imbalances domestic disputes lack spousal approval additionally hampered womens participation efforts scaleup health interventions enhanced mobile technologies consider implementation evaluation imperative ensuring mhealth programs transform rather reinforce gender inequalities evidence base effect mhealth interventions gender relations weak rigorous research urgently needed