An Initial Study Review of Designing a Technology Solution for Women in Technologically Deprived Areas or Low Resource Constraint Communities

TL;DR

This paper explores using USSD technology to improve mental health resource access for women in Ghana's low-resource communities, addressing mobile access limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contribution

It proposes a novel application of USSD technology to overcome mobile access barriers for women in deprived areas, enhancing mental health support.

Findings

USSD can facilitate complex transactions without internet.

Limited mobile access restricts women's health information access.

USSD has potential to improve mental health support in low-resource settings.

Abstract

In the West African country of Ghana, depression is a significant issue affecting a large number of women. Despite its importance, the issue received insufficient attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In developed countries, mobile phones serve as a convenient medium for accessing health information and providers. However, in Ghana, women's access to mobile phones is limited by cultural, social, and financial constraints, hindering their ability to seek mental health information and support. While some women in deprived areas can afford feature phones, such as the Nokia 3310, the lack of advanced smartphone features further restricts their access to necessary health information. This paper reviews the potential of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technology to address these challenges. Unlike Short Messaging Service (SMS), USSD can facilitate data collection, complex transactions, and provide information access without the need for internet connectivity. This research proposes studying the use of USSD to improve access to mental health resources for resource-deprived women in Ghana.