title: Health worker perceptions of integrating mobile phones into community case management of malaria in Saraya, Senegal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although community case management of malaria increases access to life-saving care in isolated settings, it contends with many logistical challenges. Mobile phone health information technology may present an opportunity to address a number of these barriers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the wireless adaptation of the technology acceptance model, this study assessed availability, ease of use, usefulness, and job relevance of mobile phones by health workers in Saraya, Senegal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study conducted seven key informant interviews with government health workers, and three focus groups and 76 surveys with lay health workers. Principal findings included that mobile phones are already widely available and used, and that participants valued using phones to address training, stock management, programme reporting, and transportation challenges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By documenting widespread use of mobile phones and health worker perceptions of their most useful applications, this paper provides a framework for their integration into the community case management of malaria programme in Saraya, Senegal.
authors.affiliation: Harlem Residency in Family Medicine, Institute for Family Health, New York, New York, 10029, USA dblanas@institute2000.org.
authors.forename: Demetri A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Blanas
authors.affiliation: Health District of Saraya, Senegalese Ministry of Health, Saraya, Senegal.
authors.forename: Youssoupha
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.affiliation: Center on Child Protection, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.affiliation: Health District of Saraya, Senegalese Ministry of Health, Saraya, Senegal.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manga
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: ICF International, New York, New York, 10028, USA.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.affiliation: Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kanter
authors.affiliation: African Services Committee, New York, New York, 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hennig
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019090:Case Management; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012675:Senegal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Community health workers; Health information technology; Lay health workers; Malaria; Mobile phones; Senegal