Making the Case for a Targeted Needs Assessment for mHealth: Prioritizing Regions in sub-Saharan Africa Using Geospatial Mapping

Abstract

Mobile health has the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness, accessibility, and personalization of healthcare, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Nevertheless, for numerous populations, particularly those residing in remote areas, these advantages remain unattainable due to a lack of access to digital health solutions. By employing geospatial mapping of relevant criteria, we aim to identify and prioritize regions in sub-Saharan Africa, where mHealth could demonstrate particular promise. We identified 695 sub-national high-priority regions for mHealth. However, many of these regions lack 2G, 3G, or 4G coverage, necessitating SMS, call-based, and offline mHealth solutions. Our research adds to the literature on the digital divide by highlighting the importance of targeted needs assessments to identify areas in need of digital transformation. It demonstrates the value of geographic information in ICT4D research, particularly for contextualizing findings in mHealth.