Lessons learnt from the participatory design of a mobile care data application in a resource-restricted context

Abstract

This case describes the participatory process of developing a mobile solution for care givers in a resource-restricted context. The experiences of the designers and developers during this process are shared. mHealth solutions are not yet widely adopted for care giving services and the lessons learnt could be valuable to others designing similar solutions. The literacy level of the care givers as end-users was an important consideration for selecting the right methods to involve them in the design of the solution. It was a challenge to design the solution for the kind of mobile phones used by the care givers in these poorer communities since these phones have limited functionality. The design of the mobile solution as well as the process to involve the end-users were therefore influenced by the constraints of the context of use.