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Knowledge, attitude, and use of mHealth technology among students in Ghana: A university-based survey.

Authors :
Peprah, Prince
Abalo, Emmanuel Mawuli
Agyemang-Duah, Williams
Gyasi, Razak M
Reforce, Okwei
Nyonyo, Julius
Amankwaa, Godfred
Amoako, Jones
Kaaratoore, Paulinus
Source :
BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making; 11/12/2019, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p1-11, 11p, 6 Charts
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

<bold>Background: </bold>Interest in mHealth interventions, defined as the use of mobile phones to access healthcare is increasingly becoming popular globally. Given its technology-based applications, university students may be key clients of the mHealth adoption but studies are rare in sub-Saharan Africa. This study provides a snapshot and baseline evidence on knowledge, attitude and use of mHealth among university students in Ghana.<bold>Methods: </bold>Using a self-administered questionnaire, we collected data between April and June 2017 from 963 randomly sampled undergraduate students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Pearson's Chi-square (χ2) test assessed the differences between variables whilst  logistic regression models estimated the independent predictors of use of mHealth with p < 0.05 as significant.<bold>Results: </bold>Knowledge on mHealth was moderately high. Specifically, more than half of the sample reported awareness of mHealth although the prevalence of use of mHealth stood at 51%. Logistic regressions revealed that mHealth use was positively associated with respondents' year (second year: OR = 1.704, 95% CI: 1.185-2.452, and third year: OR = 1.528, 95% CI: 1.060-2.202), and monthly income (OR:3.112, 95%CI: 1.180-8.211). However, ethnicity [(OR = 0.761, 95% CI (0.580-0.997)] was negatively associated with the use of mHealth technology.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Findings suggest that knowledge of mHealth among university students is low. Policy and public health interventions for urgent awareness creation and promotion of use of mHealth as well as its possible integration into the mainstream healthcare system in Ghana are timely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14726947
Volume :
19
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
139632040
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-019-0947-0