Mobile Health Technology Program And Its Cost Effectiveness In Improving Health Service Delivery In Nigeria: A Study Of Dutse Local Government Jigawa, Nigeria
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International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT) | |
© 2016 by IJCTT Journal | ||
Volume-35 Number-5 |
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Year of Publication : 2016 | ||
Authors : Nasiru Sani, Haruna Isa Hussain, Suleiman Hussaini |
Nasiru Sani, Haruna Isa Hussain, Suleiman Hussaini "Mobile Health Technology Program And Its Cost Effectiveness In Improving Health Service Delivery In Nigeria: A Study Of Dutse Local Government Jigawa, Nigeria". International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT) V35(5):241-244, May 2016. ISSN:2231-2803. www.ijcttjournal.org. Published by Seventh Sense Research Group.
Abstract -
The topic Mobile Health technology program
and Its Cost Effectiveness in Improving Health Service
Delivery in Nigeria: A study of Dutse Local Government.
This study was done under the following objectives: 1. To
establish the practical use of mobile technology in the
health sector of Dutse Local Government; 2. To examine
the effectiveness of mobile technology in improving health
service delivery in Dutse Local Government; 3. To identify
barriers to mobile technology at improving health sector of
Dutse Local Government and 4. To determine the
relationship between mobile technology and service
delivery in the health sector of Dutse Local Government.
The study employed cross-sectional survey design and data
was collected using both open and closed ended
questionnaires from a sample size of 450 respondents
comprising of the patients, health workers and health
system managers. The study established that the practical
use of mobile health in the Health Sector of Dutse Local
Government included among others healthcare telephone
helpline, emergency toll free telephone services and mobile
phone technology for recording patient information. The
study also revealed that mobile health is an efficient
platform in improving healthcare service delivery.
However, its potential is not yet fully explored in Dutse
Local Government. There were also a number of barriers
such as operational cost, lack of knowledge and policies
that hindered the smooth implementation of mobile health
technology. Furthermore, the study indicated a significant
correlation between mobile health technology and service
delivery in Dutse Local Government (r=0.985,
r<0.000).The study concluded that the underlying barriers
to and gaps in scale and sustainability are at present.
Ultimately, mobile healthcare services and devices are only
effective if adopted by healthcare professionals and
patients. The study recommended that Healthcare solution
providers must therefore focus on developing products and
services that are easy to use by health workers and patient
as well, without additional layers of complexity. Healthcare
professionals must see clear and immediate benefits from
any new device brought to health sector.
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Keywords
mobile health technology (m health),
health service delivery, mobile phones, cost
effectiveness