SynthesisGlobalization and health2014
Mobile health for non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the literature and strategic framework for research.
Synthesis in Globalization and health, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03376607 (Community- and mHealth-Based Integrated Management of Diabetes in Primary Healthcare in Rwanda), which is not on this map. Cited by 82 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Community- and mHealth-Based Integrated Management of Diabetes in Primary Healthcare in Rwanda: The D²Rwanda Study
Who cites it
82 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Mobile Apps to Improve Health Parameters in Healthy Adults: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Pooled it
- Use of Technology to Support Health Care Providers Delivering Care in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Umbrella Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- The Use of Mobile Health Interventions for Outcomes among Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients with Prediabetes: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Use of technology to prevent, detect, manage and control hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2022Pooled it
- Digital Health Strategies for Cervical Cancer Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Review of Current Implementations and Gaps in Research.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- The effectiveness of e-& mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and healthy diets in developing countries: A systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2016Pooled it
- A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of mHealth interventions against non-communicable diseases in developing countries.BMC public health · 2016Pooled it
- Implementation of an mHealth intervention to increase adherence to triage among HPV positive women with HPV-self-collection (ATICA study): post-implementation evaluation from the women's perspective.BMC women's health · 2023Trial
- Transtheoretical model-based mobile health application for PCOS.Reproductive health · 2022Trial
- Digital messaging to support control for type 2 diabetes (StAR2D): a multicentre randomised controlled trial.BMC public health · 2021Trial
- Sustainability of mHealth Effects on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Five-Year Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Trial
- Text Messaging for Exercise Promotion in Older Adults From an Upper-Middle-Income Country: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2016Trial
- The burden and risk factors of NCDs in Zimbabwe: evidence from the Zimbabwe population based HIV impact assessment 2020 survey.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Reciprocal innovation in implementation science and global health: reflections from the EXTRA-CVD (extending the HIV treatment cascade for cardiovascular disease prevention) study.BMC global and public health · 2026Review
- Identification and mapping of mHealth interventions applied in palliative care in Sub Saharan Africa: a scoping review.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Barriers and facilitators to delivering tobacco cessation interventions at HIV care clinics in Sub-Saharan Africa: Qualitative application of the consolidated framework for implementation research.Tobacco prevention & cessation · 2026Article
- Mapping the evidence on mHealth interventions for cardiovascular event care in Africa: a scoping review.Heart (British Cardiac Society) · 2025Article
- Implementing Smartphone-Based Telemedicine for Cervical Cancer Screening in Uganda: Qualitative Study of Stakeholders' Perceptions.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Community engagement to inform development of strategies to improve referral for hypertension: perspectives of patients, providers and local community members in western Kenya.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Digital health interventions for non-communicable disease management in primary health care in low-and middle-income countries.NPJ digital medicine · 2023Review
22 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMobile health (mHealth) approaches for non-communicable disease (NCD) care seem particularly applicable to sub-Saharan Africa given the penetration of mobile phones in the region. The evidence to support its implementation has not been critically reviewed.
methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials, a number of other databases, and grey literature for studies reported between 1992 and 2012 published in English or with an English abstract available. We extracted data using a standard form in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
resultsOur search yielded 475 citations of which eleven were reviewed in full after applying exclusion criteria. Five of those studies met the inclusion criteria of using a mobile phone for non-communicable disease care in sub-Saharan Africa. Most studies lacked comparator arms, clinical endpoints, or were of short duration. mHealth for NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa appears feasible for follow-up and retention of patients, can support peer support networks, and uses a variety of mHealth modalities. Whether mHealth is associated with any adverse effect has not been systematically studied. Only a small number of mHealth strategies for NCDs have been studied in sub-Saharan Africa.
conclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of mHealth for NCD care in sub-Saharan Africa. We present a framework for cataloging evidence on mHealth strategies that incorporates health system challenges and stages of NCD care. This framework can guide approaches to fill evidence gaps in this area. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42014007527.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.