ArticlePloS one2023
Digital health in fragile states in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: A scoping review of the literature.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- Digital Health Interventions to Promote Physical Activity Among Adolescents: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- A systematic review of features and content quality of Arabic mental mHealth apps.Frontiers in digital health · 2024Pooled it
- Fragmented Data, Fragmented Care: Strengthening Health Information Systems for Universal Health Coverage in Somalia.Public health challenges · 2026Article
- Public health informatics tools for dengue risk management: A systematic review.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Exploring Students' Perceptions and Usage of Artificial Intelligence in Supporting Mental Health: A Preliminary Study in Higher Education in Qatar.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Digital Health Technology Use Among Rehabilitation Professionals in China: Multi-Province Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Article
- Public health interventions for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in humanitarian emergencies: an overview of systematic reviews.BMC public health · 2026Review
- Perspectives of Rehabilitation Specialists on Telerehabilitation in Jordan: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Implementation Barriers.International journal of telemedicine and applications · 2026Article
- Telehealth during and beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from licensed dietitians in an emerging economy.PloS one · 2026Article
- Holistic approach to dysmenorrhea management: Integrating pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for improved women's health in the Middle East and Africa.BMC women's health · 2025Review
- Exploring Literature on Data Governance in the Health Care of Older Persons: Scoping Review.JMIR aging · 2025Article
- Measuring the impact of disability on telehealth self-efficacy in five Arab countries: a comparative study in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Digital health intervention reconnects war-affected people living with HIV to healthcare: Ukraine case study.Oxford open digital health · 2025Article
- Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of patient-portal-based screening for substance use among people with HIV.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Evaluating the impact of engaging healthcare providers in an AI-based gamified mHealth intervention for improving maternal health outcomes among disadvantaged pregnant women in Lebanon.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Perceived clinical and ethical impact of digital transformation in healthcare and research: A survey in the MENA region.PloS one · 2025Article
- Assessing the impact of digital health literacy on health management practices in Arab Middle Eastern and North African countries:Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Digital-based physical activity interventions implemented across the League of Arab States: a scoping review.Oxford open digital health · 2025Review
- Digital health records: an essential yet neglected step in Iraq.Oxford open digital health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionConflict, fragility and political violence, that are taking place in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have devastating effects on health. Digital health technologies can contribute to enhancing the quality, accessibility and availability of health care services in fragile and conflict-affected states of the MENA region. To inform future research, investments and policy processes, this scoping review aims to map out the evidence on digital health in fragile states in the MENA region.
methodWe conducted a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. We conducted descriptive analysis of the general characteristics of the included papers and thematic analysis of the key findings of included studies categorized by targeted primary users of different digital health intervention.
resultsOut of the 10,724 articles identified, we included 93 studies. The included studies mainly focused on digital health interventions targeting healthcare providers, clients and data services, while few studies focused on health systems or organizations managers. Most of the included studies were observational studies (49%). We identified no systematic reviews. Most of the studies were conducted in Lebanon (32%) followed by Afghanistan (13%) and Palestine (12%). The first authors were mainly affiliated with institutions from countries outside the MENA region (57%), mainly United Kingdom and United States. Digital health interventions provided a platform for training, supervision, and consultation for health care providers, continuing education for medical students, and disease self-management. The review also highlighted some implementation considerations for the adoption of digital health such as computer literacy, weak technological infrastructure, and privacy concerns.
conclusionThis review showed that digital health technologies can provide promising solutions in addressing health needs in fragile and conflict-affected states. However, rigorous evaluation of digital technologies in fragile settings and humanitarian crises are needed to inform their design and deployment.
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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.