Challenges of Digitisation of Maternal Healthcare in Rural Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Poor level of digitisation of maternal healthcare in hospitals is a major challenge that heightens the rate of maternal mortality among rural women in Bayelsa State. The study explores the role and challenges of digitisation of maternal healthcare in rural Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted and the instruments for data collection were in-depth interview and questionnaire. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed using the Statistics for Social Sciences (SPSS), presented in tables. Findings revealed that digitisation in hospitals improve access to maternal healthcare information by rural women and this promotes safe and successful delivery. Further findings showed that poor funding on the part of government, inadequate training of medical personnel and lack of public power supply are some of the challenges of digitisation of maternal healthcare in rural communities. It is recommended among others that local government council and Bayelsa State government to jointly invest in digitalising maternal healthcare in difficult riverine terrain for quick and timely accessibility, provide adequate training of medical staff and minimum user fees can be charged to finance the cost of fuel for mini-generators used by rural healthcare facilities so as to ensure the availability of power supply.

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