Mobile Health Technologies could enhance Public Private Mix for Tuberculosis care in Rural Southwestern Uganda: Qualitative Findings

Abstract

Background: Despite some global progress in the implementation of the public-private mix for Tuberculosis care, the engagement of private healthcare providers remains wanting especially in high incidence countries such as Uganda. Although mobile health technologies are low-cost approaches that can enhance Tuberculosis care, there is a dearth of research about their application in fostering public-private mix. Objective: To explore the potentials of mobile health technologies in fostering public-private mix for Tuberculosis care in Uganda. Methods: This was a qualitative study design that involved in-depth interviews with 13 key informants (private healthcare workers) purposively selected between June and July 2020 due to their active involvement in Tuberculosis care from four private hospitals in Mbarara City. The interviews were transcribed and coded to identify key themes for analysis using content analysis. Results: Mobile Health technologies (such as mobile apps, text messages) have the potential to map and link patients from private hospitals to the referral units, support patient medication adherence, notify and report Tuberculosis cases to the Ugandan Ministry of Health, and enhance patient care and monitoring. Conclusion: Mobile Health technologies have the potential to revolutionize Tuberculosis care by establishing a centralized pathway for linking the referred patients from private hospitals to public hospitals. Future research should focus on assessing the utilization of mobile health technologies in enhancing access to referral units by presumptive Tuberculosis patients referred from private hospitals in low-resource settings.