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Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Mhealth In Maternal Health Care In Nakuru Provincial General Hospital

Journal: International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research (Vol.4, No. 11)

Publication Date:

Authors : ; ; ;

Page : 318-331

Keywords : Key words Adoption; cost aspects; government policies; ICT infrastructure knowledge and awareness; Maternal health care; Mhealth; technology.;

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Abstract

Abstract Access to timely and quality maternal health care remains to be a major development challenge in many developing economies particularly in Kenya. The countrys system of providing maternal health care also continue to be anchored on conventional methods of physical presence of the patient and the doctor in a hospital setup. The countrys ICT and health policies also place very little emphasis on the use of these platforms. This study therefore sought to establish the factors affecting the adoption of mHealth by focusing on maternal health in Nakuru Provincial General Hospital. Objectives of the study were to determine the extent to knowledge and awareness affects the adoption of mHealth in maternal health care at Nakuru PGH to identify the government policies affecting the adoption of mHealth in maternal health care at Nakuru PGH to assess how access to technology affects the adoption of mHealth in maternal healthcare to establish the effects of ICT infrastructure on the adoption of mHealth in maternal health care and to identify the cost aspects affecting the adoption of mHealth in maternal health care at Nakuru Provincial General Hospital. It is envisaged that the study could provide useful information on the adoption of mHealth in managing maternal health care in Nakuru Provincial General Hospital. Descriptive survey research design will be used where all the medical staff and patients of Nakuru Provincial General Hospital was surveyed. The study population therefore was made up of 24 medical staff and 3460 mothers visiting the antenatal clinic selected using clustered random sampling technique. The main instrument for primary data collection was the questionnaire. Data analysis was then done using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics to be used include frequency counts percentages and measures of central tendency. Inferential statistics on the other hand include t-test analysis and spearman correlation. The study is expected to reveal the level of adoption of mHealth in maternal health care both at individual and hospital level at Nakuru Provincial General Hospital. The findings indicated that knowledge and awareness influences the adoption of mHealth in maternal health care. There was understanding of mHealth among hospital employees. The government policies influence the adoption of mHealth in maternal health care. The hospital had no policy to enhance the integration of ICT in health service delivery. From the findings on the access to mobile technology and adoption of mHealth in maternal health care it was concluded that computers and computer accessories are fair while internet connectivity was poor. There was no promotion of government health policies on the use of mHeath. There were no government policies that guide the implementation of mHealth in the hospital. The government policies didnt promote the use of ICT in health care innovations. The cost aspects affect adoption of mHealth in maternal health care. The expense of mHealth was not affordable by the patients while the expense of mHealth is not affordable by the hospital employees.

Last modified: 2016-04-24 17:47:30