One size does not fit all - The importance of contextually sensitive mHealth strategies for frontline female health workers

Tariq, A; Durrani, S

One size does not fit all - The importance of contextually sensitive mHealth strategies for frontline female health workers

Tariq, A Durrani, S

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Publisher:: Springer
Publication Type:: Chapter
Citation:: mHealth Innovation in Asia, Mobile Communication in Asia Local Insights, Global Implications, 2018, pp. 7-29
Issue Date:: 2018

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tariq, A
dc.contributor.author	Durrani, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8740-8388
dc.date.accessioned	2022-12-05T22:00:57Z
dc.date.available	2022-12-05T22:00:57Z
dc.date.issued	2018
dc.identifier.citation	mHealth Innovation in Asia, Mobile Communication in Asia Local Insights, Global Implications, 2018, pp. 7-29
dc.identifier.isbn	978-94-024-1251-2
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/164139
dc.description.abstract	mHealth solutions represent an exciting new frontier in the fight against myriad health challenges faced in the developing world, where the use of mobile phones has become pervasive across various socioeconomic boundaries. The principal users of these solutions are frontline healthcare workers; mostly women, often working at the lowest rung of health hierarchy. The distinctive value of this workforce lies in its ability to successfully deliver health services whilst being sensitive to the culture and context of their communities. Since these women are from the client communities, they can speak to them in ways outsiders cannot. Using a contextualized case study of lady health workers (LHWs) working in rural areas of Pakistan, this chapter demonstrates how the potential represented by such frontline health workers can be maximized. To this end, it draws upon in-depth longitudinal qualitative accounts of eight LHWs involved in a 2-year pilot mHealth project to improve antenatal health care. This chapter uncovers how sociocultural barriers—such as prohibitive financial concerns and gender-based discrimination—inhibit acceptance of mHealth solutions in Pakistan. The study found that these barriers adversely impact both LHWs’ initial adoption of mobile devices as well their inclination to continue using mHealth solutions. This chapter explores how macro- and micro-level communication strategies can be used to ease these barriers. It also explores how LHWs themselves can use mobile technology to better connect with their client communities. If mHealth is to be the brave new frontier in the domain of health innovations, we need to do more to understand the finer points of its contextually sensitive applications. This chapter seeks to explore how this can become a reality for rural areas of Pakistan
dc.format.extent	8
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Springer
dc.relation.ispartof	mHealth Innovation in Asia, Mobile Communication in Asia Local Insights, Global Implications
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/978-94-024-1251-2_2
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	One size does not fit all - The importance of contextually sensitive mHealth strategies for frontline female health workers
dc.type	Chapter
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Public Communication Program
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-12-05T22:00:56Z
pubs.place-of-publication	The Netherlands
pubs.publication-status	Published
dc.location	The Netherlands

Abstract:

mHealth solutions represent an exciting new frontier in the fight against myriad health challenges faced in the developing world, where the use of mobile phones has become pervasive across various socioeconomic boundaries. The principal users of these solutions are frontline healthcare workers; mostly women, often working at the lowest rung of health hierarchy. The distinctive value of this workforce lies in its ability to successfully deliver health services whilst being sensitive to the culture and context of their communities. Since these women are from the client communities, they can speak to them in ways outsiders cannot. Using a contextualized case study of lady health workers (LHWs) working in rural areas of Pakistan, this chapter demonstrates how the potential represented by such frontline health workers can be maximized. To this end, it draws upon in-depth longitudinal qualitative accounts of eight LHWs involved in a 2-year pilot mHealth project to improve antenatal health care. This chapter uncovers how sociocultural barriers—such as prohibitive financial concerns and gender-based discrimination—inhibit acceptance of mHealth solutions in Pakistan. The study found that these barriers adversely impact both LHWs’ initial adoption of mobile devices as well their inclination to continue using mHealth solutions. This chapter explores how macro- and micro-level communication strategies can be used to ease these barriers. It also explores how LHWs themselves can use mobile technology to better connect with their client communities. If mHealth is to be the brave new frontier in the domain of health innovations, we need to do more to understand the finer points of its contextually sensitive applications. This chapter seeks to explore how this can become a reality for rural areas of Pakistan

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/164139