  In the West African country of Ghana, depression is a significant issue
affecting a large number of women. Despite its importance, the issue received
insufficient attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. In developed countries,
mobile phones serve as a convenient medium for accessing health information and
providers. However, in Ghana, women's access to mobile phones is limited by
cultural, social, and financial constraints, hindering their ability to seek
mental health information and support. While some women in deprived areas can
afford feature phones, such as the Nokia 3310, the lack of advanced smartphone
features further restricts their access to necessary health information. This
paper reviews the potential of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)
technology to address these challenges. Unlike Short Messaging Service (SMS),
USSD can facilitate data collection, complex transactions, and provide
information access without the need for internet connectivity. This research
proposes studying the use of USSD to improve access to mental health resources
for resource-deprived women in Ghana.
