Informal m-health: How are young people using mobile phones to bridge healthcare gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Hampshire, Kate; Porter, Gina; Owusu, Samuel Asiedu; Mariwah, Simon; Abane, Albert; Robson, Elsbeth; Munthali, Alister; DeLannoy, Ariane; Bango, Andisiwe; Gunguluza, Nwabisa; Milner, James

Abstract

The African communications ‘revolution’ has generated optimism that mobile phones might help overcome infrastructural barriers to healthcare provision in resource-poor contexts. However, while formal m-health programmes remain limited in coverage and scope, young people are using mobile phones creatively and strategically in an attempt to secure effective healthcare. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data collected in 2012–2014 from over 4500 young people (aged 8–25 y) in Ghana, Malawi and South Africa, this paper documents these practices and the new therapeutic opportunities they create, alongside the constraints, contingencies and risks. We argue that young people are endeavouring to lay claim to a digitally-mediated form of therapeutic citizenship, but that a lack of appropriate resources, social networks and skills (‘digital capital’), combined with ongoing shortcomings in healthcare delivery, can compromise their ability to do this effectively. The paper concludes by offering tentative suggestions for remedying this situation.

Citation

Hampshire, K., Porter, G., Owusu, S. A., Mariwah, S., Abane, A., Robson, E., …Milner, J. (2015). Informal m-health: How are young people using mobile phones to bridge healthcare gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa?. Social science & medicine, 142, 90-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.07.033

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 29, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Aug 3, 2015
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Social science & medicine
• Print ISSN: 0277-9536
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-5347
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 142
• Pages: 90-99
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.07.033
• Keywords: Mobile phones; Therapeutic citizenship; Adolescent health; Digital capital; m-health; Ghana; Malawi; South Africa
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/380723
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953615300496
• Additional Information: Copy of article first published in: Social science & medicine, 2015, v.142.