Scoping Literature Review Study of Short Message Services (SMS) and Mobile App-Based Technology as an mHealth tool for Active Participant Centered (MAPC) Adverse Events Following Immunisations (AEFIs) Surveillance using a Low Middle-Income Country (LMIC) lens

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Mobile technology is rapidly expanding globally. Uptake of such technologies to improve Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFIs) surveillance in most Low Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) settings is limited. There is limited evidence on the feasibility of such mHealth Active Participant Centered (MAPC) AEFI surveillance systems in LMICs. This scoping literature review study therefore focused at assessing the value and feasibility of mHealth active participant centered (MAPC) AEFI surveillance using SMS and /or mobile applications (apps) immunisation safety from the perspective of a LMIC. AIM The aim of the scoping literature review was to generate exploratory feasibility evidence of MAPC AEFI surveillance such as SMS response rates, AEFI reporting rates, cost implications, acceptability, and challenges from LMICs perspectives. METHODS Employing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach for scoping reviews, we conducted literature review of MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Africa -wide via EBSCOs, and the Cochrane Library for studies conducted from 1970 up to July 2022. Studies were assessed on type of mHealth platform, country of implementation, key findings of uptake, acceptability, response rates, cost and key challenges identified. Most studies 24/26(92%) were conducted in HICs from 2010 to July 2022, with evidence of MAPC AEFI surveillance improving consumer response rates and early AEFI reporting for most vaccines. The consumer vaccines SMS mean response rate was 71% for 23 studies using mixed digital technologies methods mostly conducted in HICs. These HICs have more well-resourced consumers, adequate immunisation AEFI surveillance programs and well-funded primary healthcare services. LMICs suffer from critical resource limitations to the extent that over 50 LMICs rely on donor funding for vaccine procurement. There was limited MAPC AEFI surveillance in LMICs of two published feasibility studies with no evidence of scale up. CONCLUSION MAPC AEFI surveillance is implemented mostly in HICs hence need for MAPC AEFI surveillance feasibility studies in LMICs taking advantage of increasing availability of mobile phone technology.