Mobile Health Technology Program And Its Cost Effectiveness In Improving Health Service Delivery In Nigeria: A Study Of Dutse Local Government Jigawa, Nigeria

  IJCTT-book-cover
 
International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT)          
 
© 2016 by IJCTT Journal
Volume-35 Number-5
Year of Publication : 2016
Authors : Nasiru Sani, Haruna Isa Hussain, Suleiman Hussaini

MLA

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