Leveraging mobile phones to improve malaria healthcare service delivery in Buhera rural communities: implications for practice and policy

Malaria remains a public health burden in many sub-Saharan African countries. Integrating mobile phones to reduce the burden is inevitable as they assist in reporting malaria, intensifying information, education and communication, understanding malaria transmission, mapping hotspot areas and predicting malaria seasonal variations. However, the use of mobile phones in tackling malaria remains nascent in rural communities. The study used multistage cluster sampling and purposive sampling to collect qualitative data from healthcare workers in resource-constrained rural areas. The study shows that printed media and community outreach activities are prominent methods used to create awareness of malaria during malaria peak seasons. Voice calls, short message service and mobile applications have been used to capture and report malaria incidences. However, poor network coverage, insufficient infrastructure, digital illiteracy, absence of active e-health policy and insufficient funding hinder the effective use of mobile phones in rural areas. There is a need to establish community networks in rural communities to improve internet access and connectivity, promote public-private partnerships and develop robust strategies for sustainable funding of m-health projects deployed to improve access to care. Mobile phones can aid in reporting, detecting and managing malaria cases, commodities, surveillance, hotspot mapping, awareness and community engagement.