What is it about?
Many stroke survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa cannot access mental health care. This study shows how telehealth, such as phone or video support, can help people receive mental health care during stroke recovery and explains what helps or prevents its successful use
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Why is it important?
We examine how telehealth can be adopted to support mental health care during stroke rehabilitation in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is important because mental health needs after stroke are often unmet due to limited specialists and access barriers. Two key insights are that: a) telehealth adoption depends strongly on cultural fit, simplicity, and perceived benefit rather than technology alone, and b) small, visible pilot programs play a critical role in building trust and encouraging wider uptake across health systems.
Perspectives
As the lead author, this publication reflects my interest in bridging gaps between mental health care, rehabilitation, and digital health in resource-limited settings. Working within Sub-Saharan Africa has shown me how often stroke survivors’ psychological needs are overlooked, not because they are unimportant, but because systems lack accessible solutions. This work was motivated by the belief that telehealth, if thoughtfully designed and locally grounded, can be more than a technological fix, it can be a practical and humane way to extend care to people who would otherwise be left behind. I hope this study encourages more context-sensitive digital health research and informs policies that prioritize equity, usability, and mental health integration in stroke care.
Delight Tsogbe
University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Adopting telehealth for mental health support in stroke rehabilitation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A conceptual analysis using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory, PLOS Global Public Health, February 2026, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005025.
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