Challenges to Health Information Dissemination in Tanzania and the Opportunities Provided by Chatbot in Swahili Language
Abstract:Context: To examine challenges to health-literacy with a focus on
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tanzania and to develop a Chatbot for NCDs
in Swahili language.
Objective: To examine the challenges of health information
dissemination in Tanzania; to analyse the opportunities offered by Chatbot to
address the challenges of health information dissemination in Tanzania; to
assess the readiness of users on the acceptance of an interactive Chatbot for
NCDs in Swahili Language.
Method: Survey was conducted amongst a sample of 100 participants at
Wazo ward, Dares-Salam; Chatbot was designed in Swahili and integrated into
Facebook Messenger to eliminate the cost of the internet from the end-users.
Results: Challenges to health-literacy includes: inaccurate,
inconsistent, untrustworthy, unreliable, untimely, contradictory, and confusing
information; popular media such as TV programs and the Internet presents no
opportunity for feedback, requests, or clarifications. Others are language
barrier; high cost of internet, poor connectivity, the ratio of healthcare
providers to patients, poverty, and traditional beliefs. There is a general
acceptance of receiving health information through messaging apps.
Conclusions: Chatbot for NCDs in Swahili language ‘afyaBot' could be
strategic in affording Tanzanians access to adequate and timely information on
NCDs, improve health-literacy, and promoting good health. Stakeholders and
public policymakers in the health sector will find the study useful.