Adoption Rates and Early Detection Outcomes of Mobile Health Apps for Tuberculosis Screening among Marginalized Groups in South Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Mobile health (mHealth) apps have shown promise in tuberculosis (TB) screening among marginalized groups globally, including South Africa's diverse TB epidemiology and healthcare landscape. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across databases, with inclusion criteria focused on marginalized groups (e. g. , homeless, refugees) and South African settings from to present. Studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for quality assessment. Mobile app adoption rates varied widely, ranging from 45% in one study among urban migrants to 18% in rural communities, reflecting differences in technology access and user engagement. Early detection outcomes showed an average sensitivity of 72%, with significant variation across studies. Despite mixed results, the review highlights potential for mHealth apps to improve TB screening in marginalized populations but underscores the need for tailored interventions considering technological accessibility and local health contexts. Future research should prioritise user-centred design and effectiveness testing within diverse South African settings. Implementing targeted public health campaigns could also enhance app uptake and early detection outcomes. Treatment effect was estimated with logit (pᵢ) =₀+^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.