title: Use of an innovative, affordable, and open-source short message service-based tool to monitor malaria in remote areas of Uganda.
abstract: Quality health management requires timely and accurate data, and paper-based reporting does not fill this role adequately. The introduction of malaria rapid diagnostic tests and the availability of wireless communications present an opportunity to open direct data transmission and feedback between peripheral health workers and central managers. In November 2009, the Uganda Ministry of Health deployed a short message service-based reporting system in two districts. At a set-up cost of $100/health facility, local technician support of $ 400 per month, and a cost of $0.53/week/clinic, the SMS reporting system was started at more than 140 clinics. Positivity rates for rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin combination therapy stock outs were 48% and 54% in Kabale and 71% and 54% in Gulu, among other reports, at more than 85% health facilities reporting weekly and without monetary incentives or additional supervision. The SMS-based reporting systems have potential to improve timeliness in reporting of specific, time-sensitive metrics at modest cost, while by-passing current bottlenecks in the flow of data. With the development of specific capacity to manage stock data at district level, the availability of timely data offers potential to address commodity distribution problems and reduce stock-outs.
authors: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Kampala, Uganda. caroline.asiimwe@finddiagnostics.org
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Asiimwe
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Gelvin
authors: Evan
authors: E
authors: Lee
authors: Yanis
authors: Y
authors: Ben Amor
authors: Ebony
authors: E
authors: Quinto
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Katureebe
authors: Lakshmi
authors: L
authors: Sundaram
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Bell
authors: Matt
authors: M
authors: Berg
mesh_terms: D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012423:Rural Health; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology