Mobile health (mHealth) technologies can help address many challenges in managing HIV and AIDS. mHealth uses mobile devices to improve education and awareness through motivational text messages, remotely monitor health outcomes in real-time, allow health workers to update electronic health records from the field, and help manage appointments and referrals to reduce costs. These applications of mHealth have the potential to enhance disease monitoring, support health workers, and improve treatment and outcomes for those living with HIV and AIDS.

1. mHealth for HIV and AIDS
Photo courtesy of Kiwanja
Patricia Mechael, MHS, PhD, Executive Director
pmechael@mHealthAlliance.org

2. YOUR HEADLINE HERE
Mobile health (mHealth)
can be defined as:
Medical and public
health practice
supported by mobile
devices, such as
mobile phones,
patient monitoring
devices, tablets,
personal digital
assistants (PDAs), 83% of WHO member countries reported having at
and other wireless least one mHealth initiative in their country.
devices.
77% of responding low-income countries reported at
least one mHealth initiative in their country, making
them only ten percent behind high-income countries.
Source: World Health Organization. mHealth: New horizons for health
through mobile technologies: second global survey on eHealth.
http://www.who.int/goe/publications/goe_mhealth_web.pdf.

3. mHealth for HIV and AIDS
Education & Awareness Monitoring and Evaluation
Motivational and Move toward real-time monitoring of health outcomes.
informational text
messages to support
behavior change and Remote Data Collection
health literacy. Health workers using
mobile phones to access
Monitoring Supply Chain EHRs and update
Management records.
Tracking and
replenishment of testing
and treatment supplies.
Managing Appointments
and Referrals
Diagnostic Treatment Greatest body of
and Support Training Health Workers evidence showing cost
Expedited test results to Use of mLearning to deliver savings.
improve treatment and educational content for initial
outcomes. and refresher training.