A Mobile-based Healthcare Utilization Assessment in Rural Ghana. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vogel, Lara D.; Goertz, Levi; Shani, Suhuyini S.; Boots, Mark; Dorval, Louis; Wang, N. Ewen
• Is Part Of: Procedia engineering. Volume 159(2016)
• Page Start: 366
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: Mobile health -- Interactive Voice Response -- IVR -- Rural -- Healthcare access -- Ghana; Engineering -- Congresses; Engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 620.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-7058

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Identifying the needs of disadvantaged populations is essential to addressing those needs. Investigations of healthcare access in rural sub-Saharan Africa rely on in-person interviews and SMS, which have distinct limitations. Objectives: To use interactive-voice-response (IVR) technology to survey healthcare utilization patterns in rural Ghana. Methods: This project used IVR to survey healthcare behavior by mobile phone users in rural Ghana. Automated voice messages offered an 18-question survey in 5 local languages. Results: Out of >64, 000 placed calls, 8, 601 proceeded to the survey. Survey completion rate was 1.3%, for 827 full respondents, at a total cost of 5 USD for each full survey response. Conclusions: IVR has limitations, but the ability to engage rural populations with low time and resource investment is valuable.