Bridging the Communication Gap: Successes and Challenges of Mobile Phone Technology in a Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Northern Nigeria

Authors

  • Henry Victor Doctor Columbia University
  • Alabi Olatunji PRRINN-MNCH Programme
  • Abdul’Azeez Jumare Ahmadu Bello University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v4i3.4288

Abstract

Maternal and child health indicators are generally poor in Nigeria with the northern part of the country having the worst indicators than the southern part. Efforts to address maternal and health challenges in Nigeria include, among others, improvement in health and management information systems. We report on the experience of mobile phone technology in supporting the activities of a health and demographic surveillance system in northern Nigeria. Our experience calls for the need for the Nigerian Government, the mobile network companies, and the international community at large to consolidate their efforts in addressing the mobile network coverage and power supply challenges in order to create an enabling environment for socio-economic development particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas. Unless power and mobile network challenges are addressed, health interventions that rely on mobile phone technology will not have a significant impact in improving maternal and child health.

Author Biographies

Henry Victor Doctor, Columbia University

Associate Research Scientist Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Dept of Population & Family Health

Alabi Olatunji, PRRINN-MNCH Programme

Operations Research Unit

Abdul’Azeez Jumare, Ahmadu Bello University

Department of Community Medicine

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Published

2012-12-30

How to Cite

Doctor, H. V., Olatunji, A., & Jumare, A. (2012). Bridging the Communication Gap: Successes and Challenges of Mobile Phone Technology in a Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Northern Nigeria. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v4i3.4288

Issue

Section

Interviews and Commentaries