Open AccessValidation of a Mobile Health Technology Platform (FeverTracker) for Malaria Surveillance in India: Development and Usability Study
Author(s) -
Ipsita Pal Bhowmick,
Dibyajyoti Chutia,
Avinash Chouhan,
Nilay Nishant,
P. L. N. Raju,
Kanwar Narain,
Harpreet Kaur,
Rocky Pebam,
J. Debnath,
Rabindra Tripura,
Kongkona Gogoi,
Suman Ch Nag,
Aatreyee Nath,
Debabrata Tripathy,
Jotish Debbarma,
Nirapada Das,
Ujjwal Sarkar,
Rislyn Debbarma,
R. G. Roy,
Bishal Debnath,
Dipanjan Dasgupta,
Suraj Debbarma,
Kamal Joy Tripura,
Guneram Reang,
Amit Sharma,
Manju Rahi,
Jyoti ChhibberGoel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jmir formative research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2561-326X
DOI - 10.2196/28951
Subject(s) - malaria , disease surveillance , usability , digitization , plasmodium vivax , health facility , health care , medicine , environmental health , digital health , computer science , disease , medical emergency , plasmodium falciparum , population , immunology , pathology , telecommunications , political science , health services , human–computer interaction , law
Background A surveillance system is the foundation for disease prevention and control. Malaria surveillance is crucial for tracking regional and temporal patterns in disease incidence, assisting in recorded details, timely reporting, and frequency of analysis. Objective In this study, we aim to develop an integrated surveillance graphical app called FeverTracker, which has been designed to assist the community and health care workers in digital surveillance and thereby contribute toward malaria control and elimination. Methods FeverTracker uses a geographic information system and is linked to a web app with automated data digitization, SMS text messaging, and advisory instructions, thereby allowing immediate notification of individual cases to district and state health authorities in real time. Results The use of FeverTracker for malaria surveillance is evident, given the archaic paper-based surveillance tools used currently. The use of the app in 19 tribal villages of the Dhalai district in Tripura, India, assisted in the surveillance of 1880 suspected malaria patients and confirmed malaria infection in 93.4% (114/122; Plasmodium falciparum), 4.9% (6/122; P vivax), and 1.6% (2/122; P falciparum/P vivax mixed infection) of cases. Digital tools such as FeverTracker will be critical in integrating disease surveillance, and they offer instant data digitization for downstream processing. Conclusions The use of this technology in health care and research will strengthen the ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria. Moreover, FeverTracker provides a modifiable template for deployment in other disease systems.