Lessons from the pilot of a mobile application to map assistive technology suppliers in Africa

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dc.contributor.authorVisagie, Surona J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMatter, Rebeccaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKayange, George M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorChiwaula, Mussaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHarniss, Marken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMji, Gubelaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorScheffler, Elsjeen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2019-08-29T07:38:44Z
dc.date.available2019-08-29T07:38:44Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.descriptionCITATION: Visagie, S. J., et al. 2018. Lessons from the pilot of a mobile application to map assistive technology suppliers in Africa. African Journal of Disability, 7:a422, doi:10.4102/ajod.v7i0.422.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://ajod.org
dc.description.abstractA pilot project to develop and implement a mobile smartphone application (App) that tracks and maps assistive technology (AT) availability in southern Africa was launched in Botswana in 2016. The App was developed and tested through an iterative process. The concept of the App (AT-Info-Map) was well received by most stakeholders within the pilot country, and broader networks. Several technical and logistical obstacles were encountered. These included high data costs; difficulty in accessing AT information from the public healthcare sector, the largest supplier of AT; and the high human resource demand of collecting and keeping up-to-date device-level information within a complex and fragmented supply sector that spans private, public and civil society entities. The challenges were dealt with by keeping the data burden low and eliminating product-level tracking. The App design was expanded to include disability services, contextually specific AT categories and make navigation more intuitive. Long-term sustainability strategies like generating funding through advertisements on the App or supplier usage fees must be explored. Outreach and sensitisation programmes about both the App and AT in general must be intensified. The project team must continually strengthen partnerships with private and public stakeholders to ensure ongoing project engagement. The lessons learnt might be of value to others who wish to embark on initiatives in AT and/or implement Apps in health or disability in southern Africa and in low-resourced settings around the world.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/422
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent4 pages
dc.identifier.citationVisagie, S. J., et al. 2018. Lessons from the pilot of a mobile application to map assistive technology suppliers in Africa. African Journal of Disability, 7:a422, doi:10.4102/ajod.v7i0.422
dc.identifier.issn2226-7220 (online)
dc.identifier.issn2223-9170 (print)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.4102/ajod.v7i0.422
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/106399
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherAOSIS
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectSelf-help devices for people with disabilities -- Supply and demand -- Botswana (Africa)en_ZA
dc.subjectSelf-help devices for people with disabilities -- Information services -- Botswana (Africa)en_ZA
dc.subjectMobile apps -- Use studies -- Botswana (Africa)en_ZA
dc.titleLessons from the pilot of a mobile application to map assistive technology suppliers in Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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