Virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed during coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic in South Africa:a systematic review
- Author:
Mbunge ELLIOT
1
;
Batani JOHN
;
Gaobotse GOABAONE
;
Muchemwa BENHILDAH
Author Information
1. Department of Computer Science
- Keywords:
Digital health technology;
Virtual healthcare;
Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19);
Health systems;
South Africa
- From:
Global Health Journal
2022;6(2):102-113
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Aims:To identify virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed in South Africa during coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and the challenges associated with their use.Methods:To determine the status of digital health utilization during COVID-19 in South Africa,the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses model was used to perform a systematic and in-depth critical analysis of previously published studies in well-known and trusted online electronic databases using specific search keywords words that are relevant to this study.We selected published peer-reviewed articles available from the onset of COVID-19 to July 2021.Results:Total of 24 articles were included into this study.This study revealed that South Africa adopted digital technologies such as SMS-based solutions,mobile health applications,telemedicine and telehealth,WhatsApp-based systems,artificial intelligence and chatbots and robotics to provide healthcare services during COVID-19 pandemic.These innovative technologies have been used for various purposes including screening infectious and non-infectious diseases,disease surveillance and monitoring,medication and treatment compliance,creating awareness and communication.The study also revealed that teleconsultation and e-prescription,telelaboratory and telepharmacy,teleeducation and teletraining,teledermatology,teleradiology,telecardiology,teleophthal-mology,teleneurology,telerehabilitation,teleoncology and telepsychiatry are among virtual healthcare services delivered through digital health technologies during COVID-19 in South Africa.However,these smart digital health technologies face several impediments such as infrastructural and technological barriers,organization and financial barriers,policy and regulatory barriers as well as cultural barriers.Conclusion:Although COVID-19 has invigorated the use of digital health technologies,there are still some short-comings.The outbreak of pandemics like COVID-19 in the future is not inevitable.Therefore,we recommend increasing community networks in rural areas to bridge the digital divide and the modification of mHealth pol-icy to advocate for the effective use of innovative technologies in healthcare and the development of sustainable strategies for resources mobilization through private-public partnerships as well as joining available international initiatives advocating for smart digital health.
