{
  "abstract": "Mobile health (mHealth) technologies are increasingly used to support community-based healthcare. However, their real-world impact often remains unclear. Understanding implementation factors is essential for advancing their use and achieving meaningful health outcomes. We evaluated an mHealth tool (AitaHealth) after customising its modules and workflows for household Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing and other community-based data collection by community health workers (CHWs). We describe the acceptability, feasibility, and implementation fidelity of this approach. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation in two South African districts: uMkhanyakude and Ekurhuleni. We collected qualitative data through focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with CHWs, team leaders, and key stakeholders. We used deductive thematic analysis grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess the acceptability and implementation feasibility of the mHealth tool. We used quantitative data from the AitaHealth metadata to assess implementation fidelity. CHWs appreciated AitaHealth’s efficiency, data security, and credibility. Across the two districts, 103 CHWs recorded data for 2,452 households and 10,649 household members. However, they reported challenges in ease of use, with unreliable devices, weak support, and safety concerns hindering data collection. These issues led to inconsistent engagement, with 48.5% of CHWs logging in fewer than 15 times during implementation. Despite these challenges, when used, AitaHealth ensured high-quality data collection and household coverage, with TB-related fields completed in over 94% of households, demonstrating its potential under better conditions. AitaHealth`s limitations stemmed from system constraints rather than user resistance. To achieve full impact, mHealth tools require reliable infrastructure and supportive environments for both the tools and their implementers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa",
    "University of the Witwatersrand, School of Public Health, Johannesburg, South Africa",
    "Africa Health Research Institute, School of Laboratory Medicine & Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa",
    "TB Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom",
    "Durban University of Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban, South Africa",
    "Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE²RO), Johannesburg, South Africa"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Don Lawrence Mudzengi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lindiwe Tsope"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Piotr Hippner"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Fezeka Mboniswa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Thapelo Mpanza"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Tanyaradzwa Dube"
    },
    {
      "name": "Richard Lessells"
    },
    {
      "name": "Indira Govender"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dumile Gumede"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alison D. Grant"
    },
    {
      "name": "Katherine Fielding"
    },
    {
      "name": "Candice M. Chetty-Makkan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kavindhran Velen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Salome Charalambous"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1036psv6vwdvm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007120",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007120",
  "id": "1036psv6vwdvm",
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  ],
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  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
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  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3600|Mobile Health and mHealth Applications"
    ],
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    ],
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    ],
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    ],
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/Tuberculosis diagnosis and management"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Socioeconomic aspects of health"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Bacterial diseases/Tuberculosis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Tropical diseases/Tuberculosis"
    ],
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Socioeconomic aspects of health"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007120&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1036psv6vwdvm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
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  "subjects": [
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      "origin": "plos:infectious diseases",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
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  "title": "Evaluating the acceptability, feasibility, and implementation fidelity of a multipurpose mobile health (mHealth) app used for Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing by Ward-Based Outreach Teams (WBOTs) in South Africa",
  "title_text": "Evaluating the acceptability, feasibility, and implementation fidelity of a multipurpose mobile health (mHealth) app used for Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing by Ward-Based Outreach Teams (WBOTs) in South Africa",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1036psv6vwdvm",
  "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health",
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}