African Occupational Therapy Review (Research focus) | 01 March 2000
Digital Health Records and Rural Senegalese Healthcare Service Delivery Dynamics in Togo: A Longitudinal Study
L, o, g, i, E, y, o, h, ,, S, o, g, b, e, s, o, n, A, d, j, a, ,, M, o, s, s, i, A, k, p, a, k, p, a
Abstract
In Togo, a country in West Africa, healthcare service delivery to rural Senegalese populations has been challenged by geographical disparities and resource constraints. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data from electronic health record (EHR) databases with qualitative insights through interviews and focus groups conducted among community members and healthcare providers. A preliminary analysis reveals that the digital health records system has significantly increased patient access to medical consultations by reducing travel time to healthcare facilities, particularly in underserved rural areas where service coverage is limited. The proportion of patients who received timely consultations rose from 30% to 52% over a two-year period. The integration of digital health records has demonstrated potential for enhancing the efficiency and reach of healthcare services in remote settings, although challenges remain in ensuring equitable access across different socioeconomic groups. Future studies should explore ways to integrate these systems into existing infrastructure more effectively. Policy recommendations include funding for training programmes to improve digital literacy among rural populations and incentives for healthcare providers to adopt the system. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.