mHealth as a Tool for Health Information Dissemination In Developing Countries

Abstract

Electronic mobile devices are being adopted as a medium of health information dissemination. The ever increasing number of mobile phone users in developing countries has made its use for mhealth very attractive. This paper examined the concept of mobile health (mhealth), including the products
and methods usedfor it operations. The current areas of mhealth application in the health system were reviewed. The paper noted the challenges and limitations of mhealth in developing countries. The expected roles of health librarians in the mhealth arena were highlighted and a list of some core health
resources providedfor libraries. It concluded that the opportunity exposed by mhealth should be exploited by the working together of all stakeholders including librarians and the legal integration of mhealth in health systems by governments in developing countries.