Designing HepCare App for Promoting Hepatitis Prevention and Awareness in Bangladesh Utilizing User-Centered Design Methodology

Abstract

Hepatitis remains a major public health concern in Bangladesh due to a lack of awareness, inadequate access to healthcare, and low vaccination rates. With an estimated 4–7% of the population infected with hepatitis B and 1% with hepatitis C, hepatitis B and C continue to pose serious public health challenges in Bangladesh. In response to these challenges, the ‘HepCare’ app has been designed, aiming to promote hepatitis prevention and awareness across Bangladesh. The app is expected to play a crucial role in reducing the country’s high rates of viral hepatitis. The User-Centered Design (UCD) methodology involved detailed scientific papers that were used for the literature review used in this study to create a mobile health (mHealth) application (app) ‘HepCare’ that is tailored specifically for Bangladeshi people. The ‘HepCare’ app seeks to offer comprehensive information on any type of hepatitis, including prevention techniques, and modes of transmission. The 23 questions in the need-finding survey helped to collect user requirements and shape the features of the app. Beginning with hand-drawn sketches to create a low-fidelity prototype. The process advanced to a high-fidelity prototype which was created using Figma. Key functionalities of the ‘HepCare’ app include “About the Types of Hepatitis”, “Pre- vention Guidelines From Online Resources”, “People at Risk”, “Chatbox”, “Guidelines for Living With Hepatitis”, “Symptoms Tracker”, “Medication Reminder”, “Doctor’s Ap- pointment Reminder”, “Pregnancy and Hepatitis”, and “Advertisement and Awareness”. Interactive elements, like “Chatbox”, encourage participation and lessen stigma. Moreover, 91.2% of survey participants expressed willingness to use and recommend the ‘HepCare’ app during a user study. The user-friendly design of the high-fidelity prototype ensures intuitive interaction, becoming a vital resource in the fight against hepatitis in Bangladesh, empowering individuals with the information and resources.