Feasibility of Development of an Immunization Management Tool for Mobile Phones by UCD Approach

Mobile phones are the most used accessories of people throughout the world and its uses are increasing day by day in India [20]. Due to advancement in the field of ‘Human Computer Interaction (HCI)’ in the last few decades, attention has been drawn to usability studies of mobile devices or mobile phone applications including user need identification, user need analysis, usability testing etc. In the area of health, Immunization as such has prime importance in human life especially to protect newborns and teenagers from life threatening diseases. In India, present immunization program involves pen-paper based routine immunization (RI) card which has several drawbacks in its use; such as, spoiling of RI card, RI card being lost etc. Due to these reasons vaccines have not been disseminated properly among children. However, technologycan assist in such man-made insensibilities, mistakes and inabilities. So, in this context, before any direct technological intervention in this domain of application, it is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of technological intervention to solve this problem by identifying user need. In this paper, an attempt has been made to evaluate user need identification for design and development of an electronic immunization management tool (IMT) for mobile phones under taking user centered design approach. The current paper describes user’s responses and needs towards design and development of this tool that aims at inspiring people to give vaccines to their child properlyandboosting the existing immunization management system in near future.