Effectiveness of Digital Health Innovations for Early Detection and Management of Childhood Diseases in Africa: A Systematic Review

Childhood diseases remain a significant public health challenge in Africa, contributing substantially to under-five mortality rates. Digital health innovations, including mobile health (mHealth) technologies, telemedicine platforms, and community health information systems, have emerged as promising tools for improving early detection and management of childhood diseases in resource-limited settings. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital health innovations for early detection and management of childhood diseases in African contexts, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and utilizing the PICO framework. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE database, examining studies published between 2016 and 2025. Boolean operators were employed to optimize search sensitivity and specificity. Study selection followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines, with independent screening by reviewers. Data extraction focused on intervention characteristics, implementation context, outcomes, and quality assessment. From an initial pool of studies, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 7 (41.2%) specifically conducted in African settings including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa. The studies spanned from 2016 to 2025, with the majority published in high-impact journals. Digital health interventions predominantly focused on mobile health (mHealth) technologies (n=9, 52.9%), particularly SMS-based interventions and mobile applications. Key health conditions addressed included HIV/AIDS (n=6, 35.3%), maternal and child health (n=6, 35.3%), tuberculosis (n=2, 11.8%), and other childhood conditions. Community health approaches integrated with digital technologies were identified in 2 studies (11.8%). Evidence demonstrated improved health outcomes including enhanced disease detection rates, improved treatment adherence, increased healthcare utilization, and reduced mortality in several intervention contexts. Digital health innovations show considerable promise for improving early detection and management of childhood diseases in African settings. Mobile health technologies, particularly SMS-based interventions and community health worker- supported digital platforms, demonstrated effectiveness in addressing critical childhood health conditions including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and maternal-child health issues. However, implementation challenges including infrastructure limitations, digital literacy gaps, and sustainability concerns require continued attention. Future research should focus on scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term sustainability of digital health interventions in resource- constrained African contexts.