Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.

The use of mobile health (mHealth) technology has the potential to enhance maternal and child health care, particularly in low-income countries. However, evidence regarding its practicality and effectiveness remains limited. In Ethiopia, research on health workers' intention to adopt mHealth te...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shimeles Wondimu, Mohamed J Abawari, Yohannes Kebede
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-04-01
Series:PLOS Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000587
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849711758128709632
author Shimeles Wondimu
Mohamed J Abawari
Yohannes Kebede
author_facet Shimeles Wondimu
Mohamed J Abawari
Yohannes Kebede
author_sort Shimeles Wondimu
collection DOAJ
description The use of mobile health (mHealth) technology has the potential to enhance maternal and child health care, particularly in low-income countries. However, evidence regarding its practicality and effectiveness remains limited. In Ethiopia, research on health workers' intention to adopt mHealth technology for maternal health services is notably scarce, emphasizing the need for thoughtful evaluation and further studies to explore its real-world application. This study aims to assess the intention of primary health care unit workers towards using mobile health technology in antenatal care services in Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 27, 2023, to July 27, 2023. Data were collected from 316 primary health care unit workers using a simple random sampling technique. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis, including multivariable linear regression modeling. The response rate was 98.7%. The mean age of participants was 29.2 years, and the mean score for behavioral intention to use mobile technology in ANC services was 65%. Predictors included perceived mobile self-efficacy (β=0.318, p<0.001), perceived compatibility (β=0.601, p<0.001), mobile ownership (β=1.173, p=0.041), eHealth training (β=0.768, p=0.008), and mobile use experience (β=0.176, p<0.001). Local health managers should facilitate training to boost health workers' mobile self-efficacy, and policymakers should consider the compatibility of mHealth technology with existing practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-17564e54a3e44ffbba72bf2ac48f2bea
institution DOAJ
issn 2767-3170
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLOS Digital Health
spelling doaj-art-17564e54a3e44ffbba72bf2ac48f2bea2025-08-20T03:14:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Digital Health2767-31702025-04-0144e000058710.1371/journal.pdig.0000587Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.Shimeles WondimuMohamed J AbawariYohannes KebedeThe use of mobile health (mHealth) technology has the potential to enhance maternal and child health care, particularly in low-income countries. However, evidence regarding its practicality and effectiveness remains limited. In Ethiopia, research on health workers' intention to adopt mHealth technology for maternal health services is notably scarce, emphasizing the need for thoughtful evaluation and further studies to explore its real-world application. This study aims to assess the intention of primary health care unit workers towards using mobile health technology in antenatal care services in Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 27, 2023, to July 27, 2023. Data were collected from 316 primary health care unit workers using a simple random sampling technique. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis, including multivariable linear regression modeling. The response rate was 98.7%. The mean age of participants was 29.2 years, and the mean score for behavioral intention to use mobile technology in ANC services was 65%. Predictors included perceived mobile self-efficacy (β=0.318, p<0.001), perceived compatibility (β=0.601, p<0.001), mobile ownership (β=1.173, p=0.041), eHealth training (β=0.768, p=0.008), and mobile use experience (β=0.176, p<0.001). Local health managers should facilitate training to boost health workers' mobile self-efficacy, and policymakers should consider the compatibility of mHealth technology with existing practices.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000587
spellingShingle Shimeles Wondimu
Mohamed J Abawari
Yohannes Kebede
Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.
PLOS Digital Health
title Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.
title_full Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.
title_fullStr Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.
title_full_unstemmed Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.
title_short Intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service: Among primary health care unit workers, Bench-Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia.
title_sort intention to use mobile health in antenatal care service among primary health care unit workers bench sheko zone southwest ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000587
work_keys_str_mv AT shimeleswondimu intentiontousemobilehealthinantenatalcareserviceamongprimaryhealthcareunitworkersbenchshekozonesouthwestethiopia
AT mohamedjabawari intentiontousemobilehealthinantenatalcareserviceamongprimaryhealthcareunitworkersbenchshekozonesouthwestethiopia
AT yohanneskebede intentiontousemobilehealthinantenatalcareserviceamongprimaryhealthcareunitworkersbenchshekozonesouthwestethiopia