COVID-19 AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY: MOBILE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD IN SMARTPHONES

Objective: to describe Covid-19 mobile applications available for download on smartphones. Method: a cross-sectional study with 52 mobile applications on Covid-19, obtained from virtual stores for smartphones with Android and iOS operating systems. Fisher’s exact test and Cramér’s V were used. Results: of the applications, 45 (86.6%) were developed in 2020, 51 (98.1%) were free, and 49 (94.2%) did not have accessibility for people with disabilities. It was observed that, in 23 countries, 17 (32.7%) applications in English and 14 (26.9%) in Portuguese were created, with a choice of 11 languages, relating to nine subthemes on Covid-19, the majority on “case monitoring” and “symptoms, prevention, and care”, with 17 (32.7%) each. There was an association between the target audience and the subtheme of “symptoms, prevention, and care”, and between patient monitoring and professional training. Conclusion: Covid-19 mobile applications were available in countries on five continents, in the main languages of communication and free of charge; however, with limited accessibility for people with disabilities. DESCRIPTORS: Coronavirus. Technology. Mobile applications. Smartphone. Health education.