Behavior Change Communication

The mHealth field is often motivated by potential uses at scale. This is particularly opportune
for Behavior Change Communication (BCC), given the rapid growth of mobile phones in
developing countries. There are over 4 billion mobile phones in the world, and over 60% of mobile subscribers are in developingcountries. Mobile phone penetrationvaries between countries and within countries, but the rapid growth of mobile markets is extending the potential reach of mHealth into the hands of billions of people.

The ubiquity of mobile phones makes them the preferred tool of mHealth for BCC. Low-end mobile phones have demonstrated popularity, cultural appropriateness, scalability, commercial sustainability and infrastructural sustainability. Mobile phones largely meet these burdens of proof for technology in resource-poor environments.

These scalable prospects are balanced by ill-defined challenges. More than other types of mHealth used by staff, BCC communicates directly with populations in their own environments. It may be more difficult to control or even know all the effects of mHealth and BCC on populations. These populations may also be more vulnerable than health staff. For these reasons, the needs of audiences and users are emphasized. This recognizes that health is not the only use of their phones, and phones do not provide a complete or standalone solution for health.

This section offers guides, questions and resources related to the particular opportunities and challenges of mHealth for BCC. At this early stage of mHealth, limited evidence is available for effectiveness in developing countries. To discuss these approaches or suggest other information sources, please go to the discussion board of the mHealth Toolkit.

Guides and Overviews

Planning mHealth for BCC: Questions to Ask

Health Education

Referral

Reminders

Self-Care

Social Support

Additional Information Sources for BCC

Short Message Service (SMS) Applications for Disease Prevention in Developing Countries

2012 | Journal of Medical Internet Research | Pages: 20

DOI

Abstract Background: The last decade has witnessed unprecedented growth in the number of mobile phones in the developing world, thus linking millions of previously unconnected people.

2011 | Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology | (6 pp)

Link to PDF

This theoretical article discusses the possibilities of cell phones for use in diabetes management. It cites the need for evaluations of existing applications as well as that for interventions that are appropriate.

2010 | Journal of Biomedical Informatics | 300-306. (10pgs)

Link to article

Health services have an opportunity for advancement with the advent of health information technologies (HIT). In assessing barriers and challenges within consumer health interventions that applied both mobile and non-mobile health technologies, the study employed a technology selection framework that is concerned with the acquisition or development technologies that would advance patient care in developing countries. The framework is divided into three levels of criterion: 1) situational factors, 2) the usability of technology in health interventions, and 3) target population feasibility.

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Guides and Overviews

Resources on the broad uses of mHealth for BCC

mBCC Field Guide

2012 | The mHealth Working Group mBCC Technical Group | Abt Associates Inc.

Website Link

About:

2011 | Health Innovations | Pages: 24

English

2011 | ABT Associates | 2 pp

Link to article

Mobile phone subscriptions now top five billion, with 64 percent of users living in the developing world. This offers an unprecedented opportunity to improve communication and, potentially, health outcomes. To take advantage of this infrastructure, the mobile health (mhealth) field has experienced explosive growth in the last five years.

2010 | Current Opinion in Psychiatry | Pages: 139-144

DOI |