Challenges encountered with the use of mobile phones to deliver public health services in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana- A qualitative study

Abstract Background The adoption and application of medical technologies is one of the six health system building blocks of the World Health Organization that ensures access and quality of health services for which the mobile phone is identified as a potential tool due to its general adoption and use by people, including healthcare providers. In spite of this there are some challenges that restrict the opportunities that the mobile phone technology could offer for delivery of public health services. This study explored the challenges encountered in the use of the mobile phone to deliver public health services in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methods Qualitative research approach was employed in the study and data analysis done conducted with the use of NVIVO version 11 software package to facilitate thematic analysis of data. Results The key findings of the challenges encountered by healthcare providers in the provision of public health services comprised Management and leadership, Finance, Access, Infrastructure, Technical and Human resources. Conclusions The implication of this study is that despite the high adoption of the mobile phone by healthcare providers, there were also key challenges constraining the uptake of mHealth for public health services. A new analytical framework was developed to aid analysis of mHealth Challenges.