Exploring the effectiveness of telehealth interventions for diagnosis, contact tracing and care of Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID19) patients in sub Saharan Africa: a rapid review

Manyati, Tarisai Kudakwashe; Mutsau, Morgen

doi:10.1007/s12553-020-00485-8

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…While the odds may be against SSA with regards to mental health and COVID-19, the emergence of telemedicine in countries such as Nigeria and South Africa show promise in for future clinical care with reduced physical contact and therefore COVID-19 risk reduction ( 44 , 45 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support During COVID-19: A Review of Health Guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2021

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The COVID-19 pandemic brought in its wake an unforeseen mental health crisis. The World Health Organization published a guideline as a way of supporting mental health and psychosocial well-being of different groups during this pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has pushed governments to put measures in place to curb not only the physical health of individuals but their mental health and psychosocial well-being as well. The aim of our paper was to review mental health guidelines of some Sub Saharan African (SSA) countries: (i) to assess their appropriateness for the immediate mental health needs at this time, (ii) to form as a basis for ongoing reflection as the current pandemic evolves. Guidelines were retrieved openly from internet search and some were requested from mental health practitioners in various SSA countries. The authors designed a semi structured questionnaire, as a self-interview guide to gain insight on the experience of COVID-19 from experts in the mental health sector in the various countries. While we used a document analysis approach to analyze the data, we made use of the Mental Health Preparedness and Action Framework to discuss our findings. We received health or mental health guidelines from 10 SSA countries. Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda all had mental health guidelines or mental health component in their health guidelines. Our experts highlight that the mental health needs of the people are of concern during this pandemic but have not been given priority. They go further to suggest that the mental health needs are slightly different during this time and requiring a different approach especially considering the measures taken to curb the spread of disease. We conclude that despite the provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support guidelines, gaps still exist making them inadequate to meet the mental health needs of their communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support During COVID-19: A Review of Health Guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2021

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“…Moreover, these social media applications have help the masses in the region to receive other vital and dependable information from the health experts, government disease control agencies and the World Health Organisation to further keep the outbreak of the disease in the region on under surveillance (Hau et al, 2020;Manyati and Mutsau, 2020;Monaghesh & Hajizadeh, 2020;Obasola, Mabawonku, & Lagunju, 2015). Also, government has utilized this social media to keep the masses abreast of the policies adopted to manage and control the disease and others such as polio, tuberculosis and women breast cancer in the region (Sarfo et al, 2017;Montgomery et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussion Of Relevant Literature Potency and Prospect Of Telemedicine In Sub-saharan Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Telemedicine is a concept that portrays rendering health-related care and services, in particular to those in the remote areas, via information technology (Adenuga, Iahad, & Miskon, 2020;Kim & Zuckerman, 2019;Khalid, 2016;Monteiro, Costa, & Oliveira, 2016). Greater access to the Internet via laptops and mobile phones, as a component of globalization has promoted telemedicine and the incorporation of tele-health into extant health system in sub-Saharan African region the recent time (Babalola, Anayo, & Itoya, 2021;Manyati & Mutsau, 2020;Ajani & Fakunle, 2018;Hao et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-Cultural Binoculars View of Telemedicine in Sub-Saharan Africa: Potency, Prospect, Defect and Danger

2021

aijbls

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Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced unprecedented technological advancement, just like several other regions of the world. This improvement in technology lends credence to the proliferation of android mobile phones, laptops computers and the Internet facilities that enhance interaction on the social media which in turn generates momentous alterations in the ways the residents of the region construct their daily lives. From epidemiological perspective as well as the viewpoint of change and development, via these information technologies, rendering health-related care and services to the residents in the remote places of the region and gaining access to vital information that prompts prevention and control of diseases are now feasible unlike before the advancement. Therefore, telemedicine symbolizes a health innovation in the region. In the light of this, this paper systematically reviewed the extent to which telemedicine has gained acceptance among the residents of the region; and the socio-cultural factors and practices that promote and decelerate the general acceptance of telemedicine in the region. To accomplish the objective, the review was done meta-analytically and meta-synthetically to explore recent relevant studies. The paper discovered that reduction in the cost of gaining access to health information, harnessing online health and medical services, are among the benefits derived from telemedicine while fake online information, impoverished network service delivery, financial incapacity, theft, technical faults, underutilization of the technology devices and cyber-crime are among the factors that militate against wide acceptance of telemedicine in the region.

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“…We noted that collaborations between the government, mobile network operators, and technology companies were utilised for successful mobile positioning data tracing interventions for COVID-19 patients. Mobile applications such as the Vula platform in South Africa were also noted as effective in providing psychological support to health care workers attending to patients [ 14 ]. While hotspots areas are quarantined, health care delivery will be continued through telehealth.…”

Section: Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital technologies and COVID-19: reconsidering lockdown exit strategies for Africa

Chitungo¹,

Mhango²,

Mbunge³

et al. 2021

Pan Afr Med J

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Widespread vaccination provides a means for countries to lift strict COVID-19 restrictions previously imposed to contain the spread of the disease. However, to date, Africa has secured enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for less than 5% of its population. With widespread vaccination not on the horizon for Africa, there is a strong emphasis on non-pharmaceutical interventions which include movement restrictions (lockdowns). This general COVID-19 pandemic response of imposing lockdowns, however, neglects to factor in non-fatal consequences leading to disruption socio-economic wellbeing of the society at large. The economy in most African countries can no longer sustain lockdown restrictions. Some studies have indicated that a hard lockdown statistical value of the extra lives saved would be dwarfed by its long-term cost. At the same time not responding to the threat of the pandemic will cost lives and disrupts the social fabric. This paper proffers ways to mitigate the both and advocate for better policymaking that addresses specific challenges in defined communities thus yield higher population welfare.

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Exploring the effectiveness of telehealth interventions for diagnosis, contact tracing and care of Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID19) patients in sub Saharan Africa: a rapid review

Cited by 19 publications

References 54 publications

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support During COVID-19: A Review of Health Guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support During COVID-19: A Review of Health Guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa

Socio-Cultural Binoculars View of Telemedicine in Sub-Saharan Africa: Potency, Prospect, Defect and Danger

Digital technologies and COVID-19: reconsidering lockdown exit strategies for Africa

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