Assessment of health extension workers (HEWs) knowledge, attitude and performance in mHealth intervention in Guraghe Zone of Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Asfaw Atnafu
  • Alemayehu Bisrat

Abstract

Abstract Background: An mHealth initiative that intends to improve maternal and child health care delivery was implemented in Abeshge and Ezha woreda of Guraghe zone of SNNPR of Ethiopia by Addis Ababa University with financial support from the WB and AFDB. The adoption of such new technology for intended purpose depends on the knowledge and attitude of front line health workers towards the technology as well as expected benefits and acceptance by the end users. An assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and performance of HEWs is important to improve and scale intervention. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and performance of health extension workers’ towards mHealth intervention in two woredas of Guraghe zone of Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among health extension workers who participated in mHealth intervention that was implemented from September 2012 – October 2014 in Abeshge and Ezha woreda of Guraghe zone of SNNPR of Ethiopia. A total of 77 participants were participated in the study. A structured and pre validated questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. Descriptive statistics was employed to summarize the data using SPSS 20. Chi-square test was used to determine an association between HEW’s knowledge, attitude and performance and socio-demographic and economic characteristic. Results: Seventy seven (85%) of the HEWs who work in 57 health posts in Abeshge and Ezha woreda of Guraghe zone of SNNPR of Ethiopia participated in the study. Finding shows that fifty seven (74%) of the respondents did not have information on the potentials role of mobile phone on improved maternal health service prior to current project. After mHealth intervention, participants acquired basic knowledge on mHealth. Accordingly, most of them scored ≥ six out of the eight knowledge items and were considered as having “Good Knowledge†on mHealth application to improve maternal health service (77.8% vs. 62.3% for Abeshge and Ezha respectively). Similarly positive and favourable attitude was demonstrated towards the use of mHealth technology. Performance level of using mHealth technology is found generally satisfactory. Conclusion: Following mHealth intervention, HEWs demonstrated good knowledge and favorable attitude towards mHealth application for improved maternal health service as compared to relatively low level of knowledge at baseline. This study suggests the need to capacitate HEW’s on use of technology to scale up mHealth initiative [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2015;29(3):160-169] Key words: maternal health, mHealth, HEWs, application of technology

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Published

2016-10-10

How to Cite

Atnafu, A., & Bisrat, A. (2016). Assessment of health extension workers (HEWs) knowledge, attitude and performance in mHealth intervention in Guraghe Zone of Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 29(3). Retrieved from https://www.ejhd.org/index.php/ejhd/article/view/343