Design reflection on mobile electronic data capturing forms in African rural settings

Abstract

This paper presents a literature review of the existing tools for data capture in African rural settings. The objective has been to investigate and understand design approaches, usability, user satisfaction, as well as feasibility of capturing data using mobile device forms. Existing open source solutions are most commonly used in a variety of applications such as maternal care, new born child health, and routine health care monitoring. The common design issues involve customizing forms for the intended purpose and for semi- or non-literate user groups. User evaluation is also not often reported, however some of the studies suggest a high satisfaction as compared to the traditional paper-based approach. Typical barriers include: cost, user input, user motivation, limited graphical user interface, and availability of technology in rural areas. Some of these barriers could be addressed by practicing User-Centered Design. We suggest including all future user groups in the development of mobile electronic data capturing forms to increase usability, data accuracy, and the user satisfaction.