title: Mobile health for non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the literature and strategic framework for research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mobile health (mHealth) approaches for non-communicable disease (NCD) care seem particularly applicable to sub-Saharan Africa given the penetration of mobile phones in the region. The evidence to support its implementation has not been critically reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials, a number of other databases, and grey literature for studies reported between 1992 and 2012 published in English or with an English abstract available. We extracted data using a standard form in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our search yielded 475 citations of which eleven were reviewed in full after applying exclusion criteria. Five of those studies met the inclusion criteria of using a mobile phone for non-communicable disease care in sub-Saharan Africa. Most studies lacked comparator arms, clinical endpoints, or were of short duration. mHealth for NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa appears feasible for follow-up and retention of patients, can support peer support networks, and uses a variety of mHealth modalities. Whether mHealth is associated with any adverse effect has not been systematically studied. Only a small number of mHealth strategies for NCDs have been studied in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of mHealth for NCD care in sub-Saharan Africa. We present a framework for cataloging evidence on mHealth strategies that incorporates health system challenges and stages of NCD care. This framework can guide approaches to fill evidence gaps in this area. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42014007527.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, 2400 Pratt Street, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. gerald.bloomfield@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Gerald S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vedanthan
authors.forename: Lavanya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kithei
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Were
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Velazquez
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D014943:Global Health; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*