ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2021
Development of Digital Health Messages for Rural Populations in Tanzania: Multi- and Interdisciplinary Approach.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Improving Health Knowledge Through Provision of Free Digital Health Education to Rural Communities in Iringa, Tanzania: Nonrandomized Intervention Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Trial
- Public Awareness and Feasibility of Social Marketing for Cholangiocarcinoma Prevention Through Multi-channel Media in Thailand: Lessons for Emerging Diseases.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026Article
- Digital access, digital health information engagement, and self-reported preventive behavior among rural adults in Guizhou, China: media-use ecologies and cross-sectional associations.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Co-creation of a mobile health program (MumCare) for preventing maternal cardiovascular disease after pregnancy complications.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
- The role of media and community engagement in COVID-19 vaccinations in Tanzania.Journal of public health in Africa · 2025Article
- Digital tools for youth health promotion: principles, policies and practices in sub-Saharan Africa.Health promotion international · 2024Article
- A digital health governance agenda for sexual and reproductive health and rights.Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2023Article
- Unlock digital health promotion in LMICs to benefit the youth.PLOS digital health · 2023Review
- Multi-, Inter-, and Transdisciplinarity within the Public Health Workforce: A Scoping Review to Assess Definitions and Applications of Concepts.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Digital Health Intervention to Increase Health Knowledge Related to Diseases of High Public Health Concern in Iringa, Tanzania: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.JMIR research protocols · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHealth workers have traditionally delivered health promotion and education to rural communities in the Global South in paper leaflet formats or orally. With the rise of digital technologies, health promotion and education can be provided in innovative and more effective formats, which are believed to have a higher impact on disease prevention and treatment.
objectiveThe aim of this tutorial is to illustrate how a multi- and interdisciplinary approach can be applied in the design process of digital health messages for use in the Global South.
methodsThe multi- and interdisciplinary team of the Non-discriminating access for Digital Inclusion (DigI) project digitalized and customized available government-approved paper-based health promotion messages into a screen-suitable format. The team worked closely together and used its diverse expertise to develop digital health messages with disease-specific content in Tanzania's national language (Swahili) as well as English. The development process included the following phases: a local needs assessment; identification of government-approved health promotion materials in a nondigital format; identification of key health messages; creation of a practical and engaging story, easy to understand for the general public; drafting of a storyboard for an animated video with review, feedback, and revisions; forward and backward translation; audio recording of the story in both languages; finalization and presentation of the animations; development of relevant questions related to the health messages in each domain; and development of web and mobile apps to access the digital health messages.
resultsBetween 2017 and 2019, we developed key health messages, quizzes, and animated health videos to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniasis, and anthrax, all of which are of public health importance in Tanzania. Feedback from local stakeholders and test users was included in various phases of the process. The 4 videos and other content are available in local information spots on a digital health platform (DigI platform), established by the DigI project, in both Tanzanian Swahili and English.
conclusionsOur methodological multi- and interdisciplinary approach ensures that the digital health messages for the public are clear, high quality, and align with the government's objectives for health promotion. It also demonstrates the diversity of scientific disciplines required when collaborating on a digital health project. We recommend this approach to be applied to the development of other digital health messages for a wide range of diseases. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/25128.
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