Abstract
Globally, the use of mobile phones for improving access to healthcare and conducting health research has gained traction in recent years as rates of ownership increase, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mobile instant messaging applications, including WhatsApp Messenger, provide new and affordable opportunities for health research across time and place, potentially addressing the challenges of maintaining contact and participation involved in research with migrant and mobile populations, for example. However, little is known about the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of WhatsApp as a tool for health research. To inform our study, we conducted a scoping review of published health research that uses WhatsApp as a data collection tool. A key reason for focusing on WhatsApp is the ability to retain contact with participants when they cross international borders. Five key public health databases were searched for articles containing the words ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘health research’ in their titles and abstracts. We identified 69 articles, 16 of which met our inclusion criteria for review. We extracted data pertaining to the characteristics of the research. Across the 16 studies—11 of which were based in LMICs—WhatsApp was primarily used in one of two ways. In the eight quantitative studies identified, seven used WhatsApp to send hyperlinks to online surveys. With one exception, the eight studies that employed a qualitative (n = 6) or mixed-method (n = 2) design analysed the WhatsApp content generated through a WhatsApp-based programmatic intervention. We found a lack of attention paid to research ethics across the studies, which is concerning given the controversies WhatsApp has faced with regard to data protection in relation to end-to-end encryption. We provide recommendations to address these issues for researchers considering using WhatsApp as a data collection tool over time and place.
Highlights
A growing body of literature addresses the role that increased ownership and use of mobile phones can play in improving both access to healthcare and health systems research in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), in sub-Saharan Africa (Bloomfield et al, 2014; Hampshire et al, 2015; Lee et al, 2017)
We provide recommendations to address these issues for researchers considering using WhatsApp as a data collection tool over time and place
The subSaharan African region is characterized by mixed migration flows and multiple health challenges, including HIV and tuberculosis, that, due to the inequalities experienced in access to healthcare disproportionately affect many groups—including migrants and mobile populations (Vearey et al, 2017; Vearey, 2018)
Summary
A growing body of literature addresses the role that increased ownership and use of mobile phones can play in improving both access to healthcare and health systems research in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), in sub-Saharan Africa (Bloomfield et al, 2014; Hampshire et al, 2015; Lee et al, 2017). The subSaharan African region is characterized by mixed migration flows and multiple health challenges, including HIV and tuberculosis, that, due to the inequalities experienced in access to healthcare disproportionately affect many groups—including migrants and mobile populations (Vearey et al, 2017; Vearey, 2018). Given the existing structural factors impeding access to healthcare, coupled with high rates of mobile telephone use across the sub-Saharan African region, ‘mobile health’ or ‘mHealth’—broadly defined as the use of mobile.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
