A Proposal of a Mobile Health Data Collection and Reporting System for the Developing World

Deo Shao (School of Technology Malmo University)

Abstract

Data collection is one of the important components of public health systems. Decision makers, policy makers and health service providers need accurate and timely data in order to improve the quality of their services. The rapidly growing use of mobile technologies has increased pressure on the demand for mobile-based data collection solutions to bridge the information gaps in the health sector of the developing world. This study reviews existing health data collection systems and the available open source tools that can be used to improve these systems. We further propose a prototype using open source data collection frameworks to test their feasibility in improving the health data collection in the developing world context. We focused on the statistical health data, which are reported to secondary health facilities from primary health facilities. The proposed prototype offers ways of collecting health data through mobile phones and visualizes the collected data in a web application. Finally, we conducted a qualitative study to assess challenges in remote health data collection and evaluate usability and functionality of the proposed prototype. The evaluation of the prototype seems to show the feasibility of mobile technologies, particularly open source technologies, in improving the health data collection and reporting systems for the developing world.

Popular science summary This master thesis project investigates the challenges of health information systems in the developing world1. Through literature review and qualitative study, we study health data flow in health systems and challenges associated with health data
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collection methods. The objective is to understand the challenges and propose technology-based solutions that can improve the data flow between different levels of health systems. We further review the available technologies for data collection and evaluate their suitability in improving health data collection process in the

The developing world is also known as third

developing world. In this study we chose

world, is the term used to classify the less economically developed countries, these countries are mostly found in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

open

source

(open

standards)2 to propose

data a

aspects

are

data

accuracy

and

data

collection

frameworks

processing time. We collected reviews from health data experts and non-experts from developing countries as part of the

prototype for health data collection to gain global technical support and allow future extensions of the prototype. After reviewing several open source data collection frameworks3 we selected open data kit (ODK)4 to propose our prototype. The proposed prototype could improve data collection and reporting system from primary health facilities5 to secondary health facilities6. There are several aspects that could be improved by the prototype; the
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evaluation study on the proposed prototype. The evaluation result showed that the prototype could improve the health

information systems in the developing world. This study has uncovered challenges in health data collection methods and technologies that can be used to improve data collection process in the context of the developing world. Moreover, we have motivated the use of open source

Open Standards: Are standards that are

technologies in improving health systems of the developing world.

maintained in open forums through open process. In technology perspective, these standards are used to maintain uniformity of different components and allow users to adopt products with high degree of flexibility of using the technology. Open standards in technology context are collectively termed as open source technologies (technology that is free of charge available publicly )
3

Open source data collection frameworks: These

are set of software components (tool kits) developed from open standards that are used for data collection. 4 Open data kit (ODK): Is the open source data collection framework that is used for mobile data collection. 5 Primary health facilities: Is operational level of health care system. It consists of health care centers (point of care) such as hospitals and dispensaries. 6 Secondary health facilities: Is the management level of health care system where strategic plans and decision are made.