Last Updated: 19/12/2024
The challenge of scaling up digital solutions: the case study of “SMS for Life” in Tanzania
Objectives
The objectives of this project are:
- To draw an innovation timeline of SMS for Life in Tanzania;
- To conduct a social network analysis to understand the factors that explain how evidence was used for decision-making during the programme; and
- To identify the main constraints for the sustainability of SMS for Life in Tanzania through a health systems perspective.
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Switzerland
The program “SMS for Life” used Short Messaging Service (SMS) to monitor antimalarial stock levels at public health facilities and address the stock-out problem in Tanzania. After a successful pilot in 2010, the proportion of health facilities that had no stock of one or more antimalarials declined from 78% during the first week of the program to 26% at week 21. These results led to a nation-wide scale up and SMS for Life was implemented across 5600 public health facilities. However, a study in 2013 showed that Tanzania continued to experience antimalarial stock-outs. The program was discontinued without replacement in 2016 and no final evaluation was conducted.
This case study will document the evolution of the scale-up of the program from a health systems integration perspective with a special emphasis on the actors and their relationships to draw lessons for mHealth approaches to supply chain management at scale. To do so, a triangulation mixed-method study will be conducted. The collected data between 2011 and 2016 will be analyzed, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders will be conducted. Data from these interviews and from the document review will be included into a thematic analysis.
Additionally, a social network analysis will be done to describe the relationship between the actors involved in the program. The results will provide details on the roles of stakeholders, as well as, the variables and evidence considered in the decision-making processes.
Factors that led to the termination of the program in Tanzania will be also assessed. A new version of ”SMS for Life” is currently being planned and the identification of the bottlenecks in Tanzania will inform planning to ensure integration and long-term results. Findings of this study will also help overcome similar barriers in other mHealth programs.
Triangulation mixed methods study with qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
Jun 2018 — Dec 2018
$13,000
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