A ground-up approach to mHealth in Nigeria: A study of primary healthcare workers’ attitude to mHealth adoption
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Published Version
Date
2017
Authors
Kenny, Grace
O'Connor, Yvonne
Eze, Emmanuel
Ndibuagu, Edmund
Heavin, Ciara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Published Version
Abstract
Mobile Health (mHealth) has been piloted in developing countries to transform the delivery of healthcare services. Despite this heightened focus on mHealth, the number of fully operational mHealth solutions implemented in these locations remains surprisingly low. To extend mHealth projects beyond pilot stage it is imperative that the primary end user is positively predisposed to engaging with the mHealth intervention. Through exploring initial perceptions, we can inform later stages of mHealth projects or develop interventions to convert attitudes into commitment or motivation to use mHealth. This qualitative exploratory study aims to understand end users’, namely Primary Healthcare (PHC) workers, initial attitudes towards a mHealth project called IMPACT (usIng Mobile Phones for Assessing, Classifying and Treating sick children). We conducted a field study in Enugu State, Nigeria to understand end users’ perceptions of the relevance, benefits, threats and initial understanding of the technology influencing end users’ attitudes towards adoption of mHealth. The initial findings indicate that PHC workers expressed positive perceptions regarding the relevance and benefits associated with the IMPACT app. PHC workers focus on how the technology could support them to be more efficient and effective in their roles. However, they advocate the need for community wide education and training to eradicate negative perceptions or misgivings about the potential use of mHealth as part of a patient’s assessment.
Description
Keywords
mHealth , Mobile health , Primary healthcare workers , Developing countries , End users
Citation
Kenny, G., O’Connor, Y., Eze, E., Ndibuagu, E. and Heavin, C. (2017) 'A ground-up approach to mHealth in Nigeria: A study of primary healthcare workers’ attitude to mHealth adoption', Procedia Computer Science, 121, pp. 809-816. doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2017.11.105