The Role of Mobile Learning in Supporting Community Health Workers’ Continuous Learning: A Case of a Village Health Teams Training APP

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the role of mobile learning in supporting Community Health Workers referred to as Village Health Teams in Uganda. Continuous learning with a smartphone application (App). The study aimed to objectify the concept of using Mobile learning to support CHWs’ training, which is presently considered to be irregular, and underfunded. A Mobile App prototype is used as a study tool to digitize training content on the subject of diseases, reproductive health, sanitation, and family wellbeing. The study involved 41 respondent participants categorized as CHWs, paramedical students, and Community Health Leaders. The variables for the study included the prevalence of smartphone devices, ease of Mobile App use, challenges of the existing approach to training and information delivery, App accessibility issues, and anticipated technical challenges. Despite the conspicuous challenges of mobile technology, the study findings suggest that mobile learning is a favorable alternative to support the training of CHWs. The identified advantages relate to geographic convenience, numerous mobile services, ease of access, update, storage, and sharing of content. However, imminent challenges include the availability of devices among CHWs, lack of electricity, unreliable network, and lack of internet data. Interventions by stakeholders to mitigate challenges are highlighted and mobile learning recommendations are expanded.