Table 7 Recommendations for implementing a mobile phone intervention

Key recommendations

Applications should be developed with friendly designs, easy navigability, simple language, and visual aids to help enhance the operational characteristics of mobile phone service.

According to the purpose and complexity of mHealth intervention, qualified staff with technological skills will be required to manage the central server and other technological needs (e.g. software developers).

Coordination with telecommunication companies will be an enabler to reach private network users and improve data utilization.

Initial information on mobile phone penetration, connectivity of the internet, environmental, socio-demographic conditions, and other external factors (e.g. staff turnover) should be analysed before starting an mHealth programme.

Active participation of stakeholders facilitates the acceptance and promotion of mobile strategy amongst target groups.

Use of existing technologies (e.g. Google Maps and GIS) could be helpful and flexible for tracking and geolocation of arboviruses.

Regular training and supervision are required to increase capacities and confident of health staff to use the mobile phone.

Promoting the download of mobile applications onto the mobile phones of users can potentially reduce costs and be sustainable for participatory surveillance programmes.

Constant communication between general public and health staff can be enhanced by the use of mobile applications for participatory surveillance.

Encourage users to participate in mobile phone intervention by providing some small incentive and ensuring that the download and use is for free.

Use of traditional vector surveillance methods (ovitraps or adult traps) combined with the mobile phone technology can produce better results for early warming information for hotspots of disease transmission.

Investing more promotional and educational efforts could be required to increase usability, improve social engagement and raise awareness

The combination of the mobile phone technology with promotional media can provide better results for increasing knowledge and affecting positively behaviour in people toward prevention of arboviral diseases.