Mobile app-based malaria surveillance and vector control integration: a scoping review of evidence from endemic settings

Malar J. 2025 Nov 19;24(1):412. doi: 10.1186/s12936-025-05656-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Effective malaria surveillance is critical for timely and targeted vector control, especially in endemic settings approaching elimination. In recent years, mHealth technologies have emerged as promising tools to improve case detection, reporting efficiency, and spatial targeting of interventions. However, the extent to which mobile-app-based surveillance systems are integrated with vector control strategies remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the implementation of mobile-based malaria surveillance platforms and assess their role in supporting or enhancing vector control interventions.

METHODS: Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE (via Ovid) and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Eligible studies reported on the use of mHealth for malaria surveillance with direct or inferred linkage to vector control activities such as indoor residual spraying (IRS), long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), or larval source management. A total of 152 articles were identified, of which 20 met the inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review. Data were extracted and thematically analysed across five domains: timeliness, integration, community engagement, challenges, and policy alignment.

RESULTS: Mobile surveillance systems such as MCBR (Myanmar), SOCH and MCS (India), and MRRS (Zambia) significantly improved the timeliness of case reporting and enabled more precise vector control responses. GIS-enabled tools supported hotspot identification and real-time intervention planning. Community-based platforms like FeverTracker enhanced case detection and local engagement. However, challenges such as poor internet access, low digital literacy, and limited national policy integration impeded sustainability and scalability. Only a few platforms were institutionalized within national malaria strategies.

CONCLUSION: Mobile-app-based malaria surveillance platforms offer substantial potential to accelerate elimination goals when integrated with vector control strategies. Success depends on interoperability, community participation, and long-term policy support. Future efforts should prioritize the institutionalization of these tools within national health systems and explore adaptive models for deployment in resource-constrained settings.

PMID:41257723 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-025-05656-4