Leveraging mobile health applications to improve sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria: implications for practice and policy

Otu, Akaninyene; Ukpeh, Ido; Okuzu, Okey; Yaya, Sanni

doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01069-z

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Nigeria can be said to be experiencing a population explosion as the national population was estimated to be over 210 million as of 2020 [18]. As such, the healthcare needs of its citizens are equally increasing.…”

Section: Essential Medicines Can Be Considered Not Affordable If the ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of national tax policy on local pharmaceutical production in a southwestern state nigeria – qualitative research for the intersection of national pharmaceutical policy on health systems development

Obembe

Adenipekun

Morakinyo

et al. 2022

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Universal access to quality and affordable medicines is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Access to essential medicines is defined as the availability of medicine at an affordable price in public and private health institutions including retail pharmacies in the proximity of less than an hour from the home of the population. The dependence on importation to meet the drug needs of an expanding population has implications on the growth of the local pharmaceutical industry, availability, and affordability of essential medicines in the country. This study aims to understand the dynamics of tariffs and tax policy on local drug production in the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria. Methods This was a qualitative study involving the use of Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). A total of 15 stakeholders were interviewed. Interviews conducted were analysed thematically. The data generated were analysed using Atlas.Ti version 8.2. Results Assessment of the pharmaceutical industry sub-sector underscores myriads of challenges facing the industry and explains why the pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria are performing sub-optimally. Key stakeholders in the sector expressed concern about the fact that substantial percentage of drugs consumed in Nigeria are imported. Local manufacturers are underperforming due to several factors. Some highlighted factors were unfriendly tax environment, high cost of production, infrastructural deficit, low patronage from the government, and lack of access to low-interest rate loans. However, tax incentives and tax cuts are proven strategies to encourage and facilitate the growth of entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical industry. Conclusions Stakeholders’ perspective of implications of the tax environment on the pharmaceutical sector of Nigeria revealed the unfriendliness of the government policy to local manufacturers. Although the checklist for availability and prices of essential medicines in Osun state, Nigeria revealed that the pre-selected drugs were available in the facilities, the observed prices further affirmed the relative difficulty that is experienced by local manufacturers to compete with imported brands of the same drugs.

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Section: Essential Medicines Can Be Considered Not Affordable If the ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of national tax policy on local pharmaceutical production in a southwestern state nigeria – qualitative research for the intersection of national pharmaceutical policy on health systems development

Obembe

Adenipekun

Morakinyo

et al. 2022

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…Digital heath, support and mentoring platforms could also have the potential to support AGYW to build skills for self-care and increase autonomy in health-seeking behavior. AGYW can be empowered with the tools, information and opportunities to identify their own health needs, and access appropriate interventions enabling them to take an active part in decisionmaking about their own health, thereby promoting self-reliance and autonomy (14,33,35,36).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation and Resilience: Lessons Learned From Implementing a Combination Health and Education Intervention for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Duby

Bunce²,

Fowler³

et al. 2022

Front.Health Serv.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with reduced access to health services and worsening health outcomes for HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Through the analysis of data from an evaluation study of a combination intervention for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa, we sought to examine the way in which implementation and service provision were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, describing the adaptation implementers made to respond to this context. The intervention was implemented from 2019 in South African districts identified as high priority, given the high rates of HIV and teenage pregnancy amongst AGYW. The South African government introduced the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. We conducted in-depth interviews with 38 intervention implementers in the period from November 2020 to March 2021. Respondents described various ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions had limited their ability to implement the intervention and provide services as planned. As a result, AGYW intervention beneficiary access to SRH and psychosocial services was disrupted. Implementers described several ways in which they attempted to adapt to the pandemic context, such as offering services remotely or door-to-door. Despite attempts to respond to the context and adapt services, overall COVID-19 negatively affected implementation and service provision, and heightened issues around community acceptability of the programs. Our findings can help to inform efforts to reduce health service disruption, increase health system resilience, and ensure continuous SRH service provision to AGYW in times of pandemics and other crises.

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“…The increasing availability and use of digital technologies in Nigeria offers new opportunities to support remote training. Nigeria has the fastest growing mobile market on the African continent with mobile phone subscription in Nigeria reaching 180 million in October 2019 and smart phone usage in Nigeria currently estimated at 40 million [27]. This increasing penetration provides a springboard for launching digital training for health workers on key topics such as sepsis as many frontline health workers in Nigeria own smartphones [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nigeria has the fastest growing mobile market on the African continent with mobile phone subscription in Nigeria reaching 180 million in October 2019 and smart phone usage in Nigeria currently estimated at 40 million [27]. This increasing penetration provides a springboard for launching digital training for health workers on key topics such as sepsis as many frontline health workers in Nigeria own smartphones [27]. Our previous efforts utilising a similar app to train frontline health workers in Nigeria on Ebola Virus Disease [23] and COVID [24] demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of using digital technology to deliver training programmes in low-resource settings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upscaling health worker training on sepsis in South Eastern Nigeria using innovative digital strategies: an interventional study

Otu

Onwusaka

Otokpa

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Introduction Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Nigeria, the disproportionately high mortality rate is linked to lack of awareness, poor recognition, and late implementation of sepsis care bundles among health workers. Training of health workers using digital platforms may improve knowledge and skills and lead to better patient outcomes. Methods This Cross-sectional study involved developing and deploying a sepsis module through an innovative application (FHIND/ARCS Sepsis tutorial app) to doctors in Calabar, Nigeria. We assessed quantitative pre- and post-intervention knowledge scores for those completing the electronic training module on sepsis between both assessments. A user satisfaction survey evaluated the content of the tutorial and the usability of the app. Results One hundred and two doctors completed the course. There were more males than females (58.8% versus 41.2%). Over half (52%) were junior doctors, a minority were general practitioners and house officers (3% and 5%, respectively) and 72.6% had practiced for periods ranging from one to 15 years post qualification. Gender and age appeared to have no statistically significant association with pre- and post-test scores. The oldest age group (61-70) had the lowest mean pre- and post-test scores while general practitioners had higher mean pre- and post-test scores than other cadres. The majority (95%) of participants recorded higher post-test than pre-test scores demonstrated by a statistically significant overall increase in mean scores (25.5% ±14.7, P<0.0001). Participants were satisfied with the content and multimodal delivery of the material and found the app useable. Conclusion Digital training in sub-Saharan Africa is feasible and can sustainably close the critical knowledge gap required to respond more effectively to medical emergencies such as sepsis in LMIC settings.

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Leveraging mobile health applications to improve sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria: implications for practice and policy

Cited by 17 publications

References 23 publications

Implications of national tax policy on local pharmaceutical production in a southwestern state nigeria – qualitative research for the intersection of national pharmaceutical policy on health systems development

Implications of national tax policy on local pharmaceutical production in a southwestern state nigeria – qualitative research for the intersection of national pharmaceutical policy on health systems development

Adaptation and Resilience: Lessons Learned From Implementing a Combination Health and Education Intervention for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Upscaling health worker training on sepsis in South Eastern Nigeria using innovative digital strategies: an interventional study

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