Jocelyn Anstey Watkins|Jane Goudge|Francesc Xavier Gómez?Olivé|Frances Griffiths
Mobile phone use among patients and health workers to enhance primary healthcare: A qualitative study in rural South Africa
University of Warwick|University of the Witwatersrand|University of the Witwatersrand|Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System|University of the Witwatersrand|University of Warwick
mobile phones potential improve access healthcare information services lowresourced settings study investigated use mobile phones among patients chronic diseases pregnant women health workers enhance primary healthcare rural south africa qualitative research undertaken mpumalanga 2014 semi structured indepth interviews conducted 113 patients 43 health workers seven primary healthcare clinics one district hospital data thematically analysed found health workers patients used mobile phones healthcare bearing cost patients used mobile phones remind take medication attend clinic visits appreciated receiving voice call reminders patients health workers accessed websites used social media gather health information lacked web search strategies use websites social media intermittent due lack financial ability afford airtime among patients health workers many know search search doctors developed informal mobile health solutions response work needs lack resources due rurality physical social factors influence usability mobile phones healthcare shape communication patterns poor eyesight bottomup use mobile phones evolving fill gaps augment primary care services south africa however barriers access remain poor digital infrastructure low digital literacy