Prevalence of Mobile Phones and Factors Influencing Usage by Caregivers of Young Children in Daily Life and for Health Care in Rural China: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

IntroductionTo capitalise on mHealth, we need to understand the use of mobile phones both in daily life and for health care.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and factors that influence usage of mobile phones by caregivers of young children.Materials and MethodsA mixed methods approach was used, whereby a survey (N=1854) and semi-structured interviews (N=17) were conducted concurrently. The quantitative and qualitative data obtained were compared and integrated. Participants were caregivers of young children in Zhao County, Hebei Province, China.ResultsFour main themes were found: (i) trends in mobile phone ownership; (ii) usage of mobile phone functions; (iii) factors influencing replying to text messages; and (iv) uses of mobile phones for health care. The majority of 1,854 survey participants (1,620; 87.4%) used mobile phones, but usage was much higher among mothers (1,433; 92.6%) and fathers (41; 100.0%) compared to grandparents (142; 54.6%). Parents were able to send text messages, grandparents often not. Factors influencing the decision to reply to text messages in daily life were checking the mobile phone, trusting the sender, emotion or feeling when receiving a text message, the importance of replying and ease of use of text messages. Of 1,620 survey participants who used a mobile phone, about one in four (432; 26.7%) had used it for health care in the past three months and most (1,110; 93.5%) of 1,187 who had not wished to use their phone to receive health information.ConclusionWe found that usage of mobile phones is high, several factors influencing usage and an interest of caregivers to use phones for health care in Zhao County, rural China, which can be used to inform studies in settings with similar characteristics. Future work needs to assess factors influencing mobile phone usage in-depth to optimize experiences of users for specific mHealth-based interventions.

Using WeChat official accounts to improve malaria health literacy among Chinese expatriates in Niger: an intervention study

“…Nearly all studies have found positive effectiveness of mobile or smartphone applications (apps) for health management [32, 33]. One review also confirmed that mobile technology interventions significantly improved an array of health care outcomes in Chinese populations [34–37]. Similarly, social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WeChat provide new indexes in building relationships, finding and sharing information, and working co-operatively with others [38].…”

The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone-Based Interventions in Adherence Support for Medication regimens and Immunizations Uptake: A Systematic Review

“…Likewise, a high number of mobile phone users use it primarily for calling and receiving calls, while a small proportion of users use it for text messaging (Michelle et al, 2015). Most of the time text messages are not read if they are too many, perceived as unimportant, constitute junks and may be embarrassing, hence they are deleted (Patrick et al 2013 andMichelle et al, 2015).…”

“…This shows that mobile phone has the potential to support medications regimens and immunization uptakes. Research has also shown that the most frequently used mobile phone functions are calls and text messages (Michelle, et al 2015, Dick et al 2011. Modern functions like web browsing, chat, media and television do not cut across all mobile phone platforms (Tran and Houston 2012).…”

“…Hence, to address dissatisfaction caused by diseases, there have been several mobile phone-based interventions such as short message service (SMS), calls and interactive voice response (IVR) between patients and health caregivers to educate and remind patients of their clinic and immunization appointments, medications taking and procedures (Segaren et al, 2012, Balogun et al, 2012, Michelle et al, 2015, Osborn and Mulvaney, 2013.…”

“…Although there is increasing popularity in the use of mobile phone-based interventions in healthcare delivery; the willingness to use and to pay for the services of mobile phone-based intervention varies across patients groups. (Balogun et al 2012, Michelle et al 2015, Patel et al 2013. , a systematic review is required to evaluate their effectiveness on adherence support services with medications regimens and immunizations uptakes.…”