[UgaBYTES] Growing Use of Cellphones for Family Planning

[Sandra Nassali]

The growth of cellphone use, particularly in the developing world, is
providing health experts with a new channel of communication to provide
family planning information.

"The number of mobile subscribers is increasing at a dramatic rate with the
number of global cellphone subscribers in 2006 being estimated at 2.5
billion of an estimated global population of 6.6 billion," says David
Cantor, a senior technical manager of ICF Macro - a U.S.-based research
firm.
"These figures are expected to grow to 3.3 billion or approximately half of
the world's population by 2010, with the greatest growth in Asia, the Middle
East and Africa."

Cantor, who was attending the International Conference on Family Planning
held in Kampala, Uganda Nov. 15-18, says there is growing interest in the
health sector in capitalising on this rapid uptake of mobile communication.

One World's Mobile4Good in Kenya uses cellphone technology to inform
subscribers about opportunities for free exams or treatment, and also
provides a question-and-answer service that allows individuals to ask
sensitive health questions.

In South Africa and Botswana, cellular technology is being used to remind
people needing to take medicines at regular intervals.
Jamaica Corker of Population Services International (PSI) - a global health
programme targeting malaria, child survival, HIV/AIDS and reproductive
health - says a project in the Democratic Republic of Congo where mobile
users call a toll-free line to request family planning related information
has shown the power of mobile technology.

Since 2005, PSI has run a toll-free line through which callers can speak to
trained educators and get accurate information about family planning, or a
referral to the nearest clinic or pharmacy, where one is available in the
caller's location.

"While at the onset, the project was aimed at reaching more women, we have
learned that mobile technology is an effective way of reaching men with
family planning messages," Corker says.
"Since men are the majority of mobile phone owners, many call on behalf of
their wives and girlfriends and we are able to pass the message to them as
well."

The use of PSI's toll-free line by men seeking family planning information
could indicate encouraging growth interest in family planning by men,
perhaps facilitated by the privacy communicating by phone allows.

With the cost of mobile technology steadily falling, Cantor says the stage
is set for more rapid development in the sector.

Aside from providing family planning information, mobile phones are being
used as patient monitoring devices. Mobile phones are also being used to
collect community and clinical health data, for sending information to
health workers, researchers and patients, and to monitor patients' vital
signs.

-- 
Join the telecentre.org PHOTO Contest for a chance to win recognition and
prizes. For more info, check out http://www.telecentre.org

Sandra Nassali
Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiative (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentre.org  (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Plot 2218 Ggaba Road,
2nd Floor Kangave House
P.O. Box 6081 K'la
Email  snassali at ugabytes.org
chat    (skype)- n.sandra.
Tel      +256-414-370163