SynthesisInternational journal of medical informatics2021
Telemedicine use in Sub-Saharan Africa: Barriers and policy recommendations for Covid-19 and beyond.
Synthesis in International journal of medical informatics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 67 papers, 4 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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
67 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 109 citations in OpenAlex.
- Barriers associated with the implementation, adoption, scale-up and sustainability of mHealth in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review guided by the NASSS Framework.BMJ health & care informatics · 2026Pooled it
- Mapping global inequities in telemedicine implementation: An umbrella review of barriers and facilitators.PloS one · 2026Pooled it
- Innovative technologies to address neglected tropical diseases in African settings with persistent sociopolitical instability.Nature communications · 2024Pooled it
- Mapping the regulatory landscape of AI in healthcare in Africa.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Pooled it
- Trial
- Expanding the Evidence on the Safety and Efficiency of 2-Way Text Messaging-Based Telehealth for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Follow-up Compared With In-Person Reviews: Randomized Controlled Trial in Rural and Urban South Africa.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Trial
- From research to practice: a qualitative study examining the integration of telehealth-based suicide prevention in HIV care in Tanzania.AIDS care · 2026Article
- Awareness, attitudes, and practice intentions toward telemedicine among Egyptian medical students and interns.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Adoption of Telemedicine in African Health Policy in Pre and Post COVID-19 Eras: Innovations, Limitations, Challenges, and Lessons Learned.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Detecting cognitive impairment and psychological well-being among older adults.Machine learning. Health · 2026Article
- An account of health systems resilience to emergencies in Africa: a scoping review.Globalization and health · 2026Article
- Global Disparities in Teletherapy Adoption: A Cross-Income Analysis of Mental Health Access.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Stakeholder perspectives on telemedicine acceptance and experiences in Uganda: A qualitative study.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Togolese Doctors' Awareness, Perceptions, and Practices of Telemedicine: A National Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of tropical medicine · 2026Article
- Adopting telehealth for mental health support in stroke rehabilitation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A conceptual analysis using Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Assessing organisational and technological readiness for artificial intelligence implementation in the Ghana health service: a systematic review protocol.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- Formal and informal digital health in Tanzania: healthcare workforce, regulatory and trust implications of e-patients and virtual care and the development of the TRUST framework.Frontiers in health services · 2026Review
- Navigating neurosurgical care in low- and middle-income countries from Africa: a narrative review of barriers and facilitators.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2025Review
- Adoption of Telemedicine for Dementia Care in Nigeria: Scoping Review.Interactive journal of medical research · 2025Review
- Pathways to optimize a pediatric telemedicine and medication delivery service: a multi-level qualitative study in Haiti.BMC health services research · 2025Article
7 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
3 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTelemedicine has been a useful healthcare alternative in the fight to contain the recent Covid-19 global pandemic. Yet the extent of its application and efficacy as an alternative route for healthcare provision remains a major concern for clinicians and patients.
objectiveThis study sought to identify barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
methodA systematic review of the literature was conducted by applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for identifying, selecting, evaluating and interpreting findings.
resultsOur results from 66 empirical studies revealed a wide usage of telemedicine technology across SSA countries but also showed insufficient evidence of usage for fighting Covid-19 infection. Further, technological, organisational, legal and regulatory, individual, financial, and cultural aspects were identified as the major barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine in SSA. A list of recommendations was produced for each telemedicine barrier.
conclusionOur review shows current trends in telemedicine application, as well as highlighting critical barriers for consideration by healthcare decision makers. This review offers a number of recommendations to support wider implementation and sustainable usage of telemedicine in SSA.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.