A scoping review of mHealth use in South Africa

ABSTRACT

This scoping review synthesises evidence on mHealth in South Africa specifically related to the use and application of mobile technology, the population groups targeted, and the health outcomes measured. Three scholarly databases were searched, data was extracted using standard scoping review methods. Of 287 peer-reviewed articles, 36 articles meeting inclusion criteria were analysed. Mobile applications and short-messaging services were the primary technologies employed by mHealth interventions which increasingly incorporates bi-directional communication. Published research has increased since 2016 with the majority of studies carried out in three provinces, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. This paper provides an overview of mHealth in South Africa with recommendations for mHealth integration into private and public healthcare.

KEYWORDS:

• mHealth
• digital health technology
• scoping review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Note: Lahti et al. (2020) sampled from three provinces and Leon et al. (2012) sampled from two provinces. This is why the number of studies per provinces sums to n = 39 not n = 36.

2 See Adeagbo et al., 2018; Barron et al., 2016; Cilliers et al., 2018; Clouse et al., 2020; Gous et al., 2020; Kauta et al., 2020; Leon et al., 2012; Lindberg et al., 2019; Mainoti et al., 2019; Maraba et al., 2018; Momberg et al., 2016; Neupane et al., 2014; Odendaal et al., 2020; Seebregts et al., 2018; Spence et al., 2016; Thomsen et al., 2016; van der Merwe & Grobbelaar, 2018; van Heerden et al., 2013, 2017; Waldman & Stevens, 2015; Weimann & Stuttaford, 2014.

3 See Adeagbo et al., 2018; Adesina et al., 2014; Barron et al., 2016; Clouse et al., 2020; Coleman et al., 2020a, 2020b; Comulada et al., 2019; DiAndreth et al., 2019; Engelhard et al., 2018; Maraba et al., 2018; Neupane et al., 2014; Odendaal et al., 2020; Seebregts et al., 2018.

4 See Coleman et al., 2020a, 2020b; Comulada et al., 2019; DiAndreth et al., 2019; Engelhard et al., 2018; LeFevre et al. 2018a; LeFevre et al., 2018b; Thomsen et al., 2016.

5 See Adesina et al., 2014; Elisa, 2018; Gous et al., 2020; Kauta et al., 2020; Lahti et al., 2020; Leon et al., 2012; Lindberg et al., 2019; Momberg et al., 2016; Spence et al., 2016; Ruxwana et al., 2014; Tsai et al., 2014; van Heerden et al., 2013; van Heerden et al., 2017; Visser et al., 2020; Weimann & Stuttaford, 2014.

6 See Adeagbo et al. 2018; Barron et al., 2016; Clouse et al., 2020; Mainoti et al., 2019; Maraba et al., 2018; Mahomed, 2018; Neupane et al., 2014; Odendaal et al., 2020; Seebregts et al., 2018; van der Merwe & Grobbelaar, 2018; Waldman & Stevens, 2015; Watkins et al., 2018.

7 See Adeagbo et al., 2018; DiAndreth et al., 2019; Kauta et al., 2020; Lahti et al., 2020; Odendaal et al., 2020; Maraba et al., 2018; Watkins et al., 2018.

8 See Barron et al., 2016; Clouse et al., 2020; Coleman et al., 2020; Coleman et al., 2020b; LeFevre et al. 2018a

9 See Adeagbo et al., 2018; Cilliers et al., 2018; Engelhard et al., 2018; Gous et al., 2020; Thomsen et al., 2016; Visser et al., 2020; Waldman & Stevens, 2015.