Putting Theory into Practice: Introducing Health Technology to Rural Honduran Health Promoters

Background: Despite rapid advances in health information technology, very little work has been shared on the experiences of introducing new platforms in international rural settings.

Objective/Purpose: Asociacion Mujeres Defernsoras de la Vida (AMDV) has worked with rural, Honduran health promoters to pilot and develop the Hesperian Digital Commons, an interactive online platform to increase access to appropriate health information and for the creation of culturally competent health literacy materials.

Method: With a goal of providing feedback on navigation, functionality and user interface, community health workers (CHWs) met monthly over the course of 18 months and received basic computer training, orientation, practice searching for health information online, and learned to adapt and localize specific excerpted information. Feedback was collected in surveys, photographs, video, focus groups, and in-depth interviews. CHWs participating in the testing varied significantly in age, educational level, previous computer experience, and computer access. Results: Results showed that basic computer features including use of the mouse and memorization of keyboard functions provided the most difficulty for new users; however, age was not a deterrent in learning to use computer technology. CHWs were quickly able to extrapolate additional uses for computer technology in their daily health promotion work. Access to computers within communities remains a challenge, but mobile device assess is developing rapidly in this area.

Discussion/Conclusions: With the results acquired, efforts have been made to institutionalize the website and related tools with a goal of increasing access and utilization. Findings from this experience are informative for future efforts to introduce new health technology with CHWs in various settings.