Digital technologies such as mobile phones have shown a lot of potential for use in healthcare and related services [1, 2]. Although much attention has been made to studying the use of mobile phones in healthcare [3], little has been done to examine its use in the area of prosthetic rehabilitative services for lower-limb loss amputees [4]. Just as the case of using mobile phones in healthcare and related services has been made, it is also important to explore its use among prosthetic users in the Acholi sub-region of northern Uganda. In this study, we refer to the mobile phone as; a portable electronic communication device that enables one to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, with a camera, and internet functions.
Patients and healthcare workers can use mobile phones to facilitate the exchange of healthcare information between themselves [6]. A study by Ling et al [3] suggests that interactions through mobile phones are becoming a common part of the health informatics ecosystem for rural areas. Patients and healthcare workers are continuing to use this technology to confront many healthcare-related challenges [7, 1]. This includes among others health education, clinical and process improvements, management and treatment of diseases, and activity monitoring [1, 8, 4, 2].
The use of mobile phones for healthcare and related services is well documented [7]. However, little has been made to use a qualitative study to investigate its use among amputees [4]. In Uganda and elsewhere, quantitative surveys targeted the general use of ICT among persons with disabilities [9, 10]. For instance, a study carried out in twelve regions of Uganda found disparities in the ownership of mobile phones. More persons with disabilities who are males (73%) than female (66%) owned mobile phones. In the same study, persons with disabilities in the Acholi sub-region were found to own fewer mobile phones (34%) compared to other regions in Uganda [11]. These studies ignored the use of mobile phones for prosthetic rehabilitative services in rural under-resourced and remote areas of Uganda.
Recommendations for improving access to prosthetic rehabilitative services have been made. These include using standard guidelines for treatment, expanding service hubs, and encouraging team-based care [12]. However, these can be supplemented by the use of mobile phones by healthcare providers and prosthetics users. This is because; there is a need for other innovative solutions to break barriers to access to services for persons with disabilities [13].
In Uganda, the current service provision for persons with disabilities is inadequate [14]. This particular group is economically disadvantaged and has a challenge in accessing rehabilitative services [13]. Their livelihoods are specifically affected by the cost of healthcare, transport, and low use of assistive products [13]. These situations are common in most parts of Uganda.
The Acholi sub-region is among the regions in Uganda with the highest number of disabilities [15]. In addition, the latest statistics put the region among the poorest regions with poor health status [16]. Only 63.9% of the households in this region are within a 5-kilometre distance of public health facilities [15]. The region which measured about 29,174.19 square kilometres has one government orthopaedic workshop situated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Gulu City [14].
The challenges concerning access to healthcare and rehabilitative services by persons with disabilities are worrying. There is a need for solutions that can break barriers to access to healthcare and related services for persons with disabilities [13]. Fortunately, the use of mobile phones in other areas has shown the potential to break berries in access to healthcare and related services [7, 8, 4, 2]. However, little effort has been made to study its use in healthcare and rehabilitative services among amputees [4]. This study aims to explore the ownership of the mobile phone, knowledge of the use of mobile phone applications, use of mobile phones relating to prosthetics rehabilitative services and challenges prosthetics users face in using mobile phones.