01414nas a2200157   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042100001500054700001200069700001500081245010400096300001100200490000700211520102400218022001401242       2012                            d  c07/20121 aDéglise C1 aSuggs S1 aOdermatt P00aSMS for disease control in developing countries: a systematic review of mobile health applications.  a273-810 v183 a<p>Mobile phones provide a low cost method of addressing certain health system needs in developing countries. We examined SMS-supported interventions for prevention, surveillance, management and treatment compliance of communicable and non-communicable diseases in developing countries. We searched both peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting the use of SMS messages for disease prevention, surveillance, self-management and compliance in developing countries. A total of 98 applications fulfilled the inclusion criteria (33 prevention, 19 surveillance, 29 disease management and 17 patient compliance applications). In 31 projects, the SMS applications were evaluated. The majority of applications focused on HIV/AIDS and were located in India, South Africa and Kenya. Most used bulk (push) messaging. In general, they were well accepted by the population. The review provides further evidence that mobile phones are an appropriate and promising tool for disease control interventions in developing countries.</p>  a1758-1109