Thinking about the environment and theorising change : how could life history strategy theory inform mHealth interventions in low- and middleincome countries
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Open
Abstract
Background: There is a growing body of literature outlining the promise of mobile information
and communication technologies to improve healthcare in resource-constrained
contexts.
Methods: We reviewed the literature related to mobile information and communication
technologies which aim to improve healthcare in resource-constrained contexts, in order to
glean general observations regarding the state of mHealth in high-income countries (HIC)
and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Results: mHealth interventions in LMIC often differ substantively from those in HIC, with the
former being simpler, delivered through a single digital component (an SMS as opposed to a
mobile phone application, or ‘app’), and, as a result, targeting only one of the many factors
which impact on the activation (or deactivation) of the target behaviour. Almost as a rule,
LMIC mHealth interventions lack an explicit theory of change.
Conclusion: We highlight the necessity, when designing mHealth interventions, of having a
theory of change that encompasses multiple salient perspectives pertaining to human
behaviour. To address this need, we explore whether the concept of Life History Strategy
could provide the mHealth field with a useful theory of change. Life History Strategy Theory
may be particularly useful in understanding some of the problems, paradoxes, and limitations
of mHealth interventions found in LMIC. Specifically, this theory illuminates questions regarding
‘light-weight’ programmes which solely provide information, reminders, and other virtual
‘nudges’ that may have limited impact on behaviours governed by extrinsic structural factors.
Description
CITATION: Morgan, B., Hunt, X. & Tomlinson, M. 2017. Thinking about the environment and theorising change: how could Life History Strategy Theory inform mHealth interventions in low- and middleincome countries. Global Health Action, 10(1):1320118, doi:10.1080/16549716.2017.1320118.
The original publication is available at https://www.tandfonline.com
The original publication is available at https://www.tandfonline.com
Keywords
Public health, Life history strategy theory, Innovations, Medical, Wireless communication systems in medical care, mHealth
Citation
Morgan, B., Hunt, X. & Tomlinson, M. 2017. Thinking about the environment and theorising change: how could Life History Strategy Theory inform mHealth interventions in low- and middleincome countries. Global Health Action, 10(1):1320118, doi:10.1080/16549716.2017.1320118