Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42459896›Full record

ArticleOxford open digital health2026

Localizing WHO SMART guidelines-Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) for country impact: implementation insights from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia.

Rosemary K Muliokela, Miriam Nkangu, Kuwani Banda, Abdulaziz M Hussen, Selamsew T Tsigie, Kelvin Sikwibele, Jessica Asante, Angel Mwiche, Emmanuel Batoum, Ngoi Kalamatila and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Oxford open digital health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Rosemary K MuliokelaUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0614-3646
Miriam NkanguDigital & Global Health Lab, Bruyere Health Research Institute, 43 Bruyère Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8, Canada.
Kuwani BandaInstitute for Health Measurement (IHM) Southern Africa, Quantum Office Park, Platinum Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka, Zambia.
Abdulaziz M HussenDigital Health and Implementation Science, University of Gondar, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Selamsew T TsigieDigital Health and Implementation Science, University of Gondar, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kelvin SikwibeleInstitute for Health Measurement (IHM) Southern Africa, Quantum Office Park, Platinum Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka, Zambia.
Jessica AsanteDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
Angel MwicheDepartment of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Haile Selassie Avenue, Lusaka, Zambia.
Emmanuel BatoumDepartment of Information Technology, Ministry of Public Health, N° 8, Rue 3038, Quartier du Lac, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Ngoi KalamatilaSMART Zambia Institute, Office of the President, E-Government Division, Corner of Independence Avenue and Nationalist Road, Lusaka, Zambia.
Zach N EbongoDepartment of Family Health, Ministry of Public Health, N° 8, Rue 3038, Quartier du Lac, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Azmach HadushHealth Systems Cluster, World Health Organization Country office, Plot 4609, UN Annex Building, Corner of Andrew Mwenya Road and Beit Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka, Zambia.
Binyam TilahunDigital Health and Implementation Science, University of Gondar, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Chris GuureDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
Tigest TamratUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Global investments in digital health are accelerating progress toward universal health coverage, yet low- and middle-income countries face persistent challenges: fragmented data and limited interoperability inhibit systematic transformation. The World Health Organization's SMART (Standards-based, Machine-readable, Adaptive, Requirements-based, and Testable) guidelines and Digital Adaptation Kits (DAKs) offer a standardized, evidence-based framework that enables countries to localize digital content and reinforce the uptake of standards at the point of care. Lessons from early adopters, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia, demonstrate that structured DAK localization strengthens alignment with national digital strategies and the potential to harmonize information systems. Effective adoption is driven by early user engagement, strong government leadership, and multisectorial collaboration. Mainstreaming the SMART Guidelines approach highlights the importance of robust governance and contextual adaptation in sustaining and scaling digital solutions that align with global standards.

Indexed as

antenatal careclinical decision supportDigital Adaptation Kitsdigital health governancedigital health implementationelectronic health recordsfamily planningguidelineslocalizationsexual reproductive healthstandardssustainability

Identifiers

PMID42459896
PMCPMC13370239

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.