Public Awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Utilisation in Healthcare Institutions in Anambra State
Abstract
Given the growing adoption of AI-driven diagnostic and treatment tools across health systems, understanding community awareness is crucial for effective integration and health communication. Applying the survey design, data were collected from 384 adult residents selected from across six Local Government Areas of Anambra State, Nigeria, using multistage and proportionate sampling techniques. Findings revealed a moderately high level of awareness of AI utilisation, with respondents expressing the strongest familiarity with AI-powered tools such as automated diagnostics and virtual assistants. Social media emerged as the dominant source of AI information, followed by traditional media, while healthcare providers contributed minimally to public knowledge. Respondents also recognised significant benefits of AI, including improved diagnostic accuracy, enhanced service delivery, and overall healthcare quality. However, concerns were evident regarding potential medical errors, privacy concerns, and job displacement of healthcare workers. These findings align with national and international studies showing high exposure but limited depth of understanding among the public and health workers. Guided by the Diffusion of Innovations and Agenda-Setting theories, the study concludes that public awareness is largely media-driven and remains at an early diffusion stage, underscoring the need for deliberate institutional communication, ethical safeguards, and structured public sensitisation. The study recommends strengthening health communication strategies, promoting data protection frameworks, and enhancing healthcare worker involvement in public AI education.
Keywords
Artificial IntelligencePublic AwarenessHealthcareUtilisationAnambra State E-ISSN 2545-529x
References
Abiodun, O. A., Ajiboye, P. O., Salihu, M. O., Sulyman, D., Akinsulore, A., Obayi, O., & Salihu, H. B. (2025). Psychiatrists’ and trainees’ knowledge, perception, and readiness for integration of artificial intelligence in mental health care in Nigeria.BMC Psychiatry, 25, 685. [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07135-1] Adedeinsewo, D. A., Onietan, D., Morales-Lara, A. C., Moideen Sheriff, S., Afolabi, B. B., Kushimo, O. A., Mbakwem, A. C., Ibiyemi, K. F., Ogunmodede, J. A., Raji, H. O., Ringim, S. H., Habib, A. A., Hamza, S. M., Ogah, O. S., Obajimi, G., Saanu, O. O., Aborisade, S., Jagun, O. E., Inofomoh, F. O., ... Carter, R. E. (2025). Contextual challenges in implementing artificial intelligence for healthcare in low-resource environments: Insights from the SPEC-AI Nigeria trial. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 12, 1516088. [https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516088](https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1516088 Adepetun, A. (2024, August 22). Nigeria occupies sixth position in AI awareness. The Guardian. https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-occupies-sixth-position-in-ai-awareness. Adigwe, O. P., Onavbavba, G., & Sanyaolu, S. E. (2024). Exploring the matrix: Knowledge, perceptions, and prospects of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Nigerian healthcare. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 6, 1293297. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2023.1293297 Alli, K. O., Adewale, A. O., & Akintajuwa, A. O. (n.d.). Exploring the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in healthcare: A study of healthcare workers in medical institutions in Ondo State, Nigeria. IJEFM. Anambra Daily. (2024). Ojukwu Varsity advocates integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Asiedu, M. N., Haykel, I., Dieng, A., Kauer, K., Ahmed, T., Ofori, F., Chan, C., Pfohl, S., Rostamzadeh, N., & Heller, K. (2025). Nteasee: Understanding needs in AI for health in Africa — A mixed-methods study of expert and general population perspectives. In Proceedings of the 2025 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT ’25) (pp. 1–72). [https://doi.org/10.1145/3715275.3732160] Daniel, A. D., Asheku, A. N., Stephen, Y., Abraham, G. N., Paul, D. N. L., Swende, L. T., Ohiozoje, O. B., Rimamnunra, G. N., & Ocheifa, N. M. (2024). Assessment of knowledge, practice, perception, and expectations of artificial intelligence in medical care among staff of a tertiary hospital. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 34(4), 313–320. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v34i4.7. Gavi. (2025). AI tools are changing how people access healthcare in Nigeria. VaccinesWork. [https://www.gavi.org. Harwood, T., Maltby, J., & Mukaetova-Ladinska, E. (2019). Role of artificial intelligence in care of ageing society: Focus on dementia. OBM Geriatrics, 3(062). [https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903062](https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.190 3062) Jovel, J., & Greiner, R. (2021). An introduction to machine learning approaches for biomedical research. Frontiers in Medicine, 8, 771607. [https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.771607 Mahomed, F. (2018). Healthcare, artificial intelligence, and the fourth industrial revolution: Ethical, social, and legal considerations. South African Journal of Bioethics and Law, 11(2), 9395.[https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2018.v11i2.664] Mahomed, F., et al. (2023). Knowledge and perception of healthcare professionals in Nigeria regarding AI and machine learning in the health sector. PMC. E-ISSN 2545-529x Nwosu, C. C., Obalum, D. C., & Ananti, M. O. (2024). Artificial intelligence in public service and governance in Nigeria. Journal of Governance and Accountability Studies. Obiekwe, S. J., Omaga, I. B., Ukadike, M. M., Edeh, C. G., Iheanyi, C. E., Anisiobi, P. U., Obi, C. F., Ogenyi, S., & Obi, E. (2024). The integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare: A cross-sectional study on the knowledge, perception, and readiness of medical students at a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Apollo Medicine, 22(4), 287–295. [https://doi.org/10.1177/09760016241287301 Ogolodom, M. P., Mbaba, A. N., Johnson, J., Chiegwu, H. U., Ordu, K. S., Okeji, M. C., Alazigha, N., Balogun, E. O., Bakre, A. F. K., Joseph, D. Z., Dambele, M. Y., Nyenke, C. U., Madume, A. K., Jeremiah, C. U., Egop, B. E., Ochong, A. D., & Nwodo, V. K. (2023). Knowledge and perception of healthcare workers towards the adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare service delivery in Nigeria. Salud AG, 1(16), 2–10. Ogolodom, M. P., Mbaba, A. N., Johnson, J., et al. (2024). Knowledge and perception of healthcare workers towards AI adoption in healthcare service delivery in Nigeria. AG Salud. Ojedokun, S., Afolabi, S., Olukoyejo, O., & Alatishe, T. (2024). Perceptions and opinions of medical professionals on artificial intelligence in optimizing the healthcare sector. Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice, 7(1), 279–288. Oluwadiya, K. S., Adeoti, A. O., Agodirin, S. O., Nottidge, T. E., Usman, M. I., Gali, M. B., Onyemaechi, N. O., Ramat, A. M., Adedire, A., & Zakari, L. Y. (2023). Exploring artificial intelligence in the Nigerian medical educational space: An online cross-sectional study of perceptions, risks and benefits among students and lecturers. Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal, 30(4), 285–292. [https://doi.org/10.4103/npmj.npmj_186_23] Owoyemi, A., Boyd, A., Osiyemi, A., & Owoyemi, J. (2020). Artificial intelligence for healthcare in Africa. Frontiers in Digital Health, 2, 6. [https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2020.00006 Oyewola, D. O., Dada, E. G., Misra, S., & Damaševicius, R. A. (2022). A novel data augmentation convolutional neural network for detecting malaria parasites in blood smear images. Applied Artificial Intelligence, 36, 2033473. [https://doi.org/10.1080/08839514.2022.2033473 Prolific Practice. (n.d.). AI in Nigerian healthcare: Transforming diagnostics and patient care. Qure.ai. (2024). AI’s impact on tuberculosis treatment and management in Anambra State, Nigeria. [https://www.qure.ai/insights/ai-impact-on-tuberculosis-treatment-and-management-in- anambra-state-nigeria](https://www.qure.ai/insights/ai-impact-on-tuberculosis-treatment- and-management-in-anambra-state-nigeria) Sanchez, F. I., & Peters, J. (2023). Machine learning and deep learning in medicine and neuroimaging. Annals of Child Neurology Society, 1, 102–122. [https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.5. Teibowei, M. T., & Agbai, E. (2023). Awareness and utilization of artificial intelligence-based systems in biomedical translation among health professionals in Bayelsa State. International Journal of Medical Evaluation and Physical Report, 7(23), 72–81. Ugbomeh, W. O. (2024). Artificial intelligence in the Nigerian healthcare system: Transforming diagnostics and patient care. ThisDay. Ugbomeh, W. O. (2024, August 6). Artificial intelligence in the Nigerian healthcare system: Revolutionizing access, efficiency, and care. ThisDay. [https://www.thisdaylive.com/2024/06/15/artificial-intelligence-in-the-nigerian- healthcare-system-revolutionizing-access-efficiency-and-care-williams-ogochukwu- ugbomeh/](https://www.thisdaylive.com/2024/06/15/artificial-intelligence-in-the- E-ISSN 2545-529x nigerian-healthcare-system-revolutionizing-access-efficiency-and-care-williams- ogochukwu-ugbomeh/) World Health Organization. (2023). Malaria. [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact- sheets/detail/malaria
More Articles from RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MASS COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Media Ownership Structure and Responsible Journalism: Implications for Media Accountability and Democratic Governance in Nigeria
Author: Nimaa, Tornebari Justice
The Digital Public Sphere in Nigeria: A Review of Politeness, Dissent, and Identity in Online Comment Sections
Author: Ife Ajepe
Crowdsourcing Truths: A Participatory Fact-Checking Tool for Nigerian Citizens on X Platform
Author: Owen, Eric Chukwuemeka, Prof. G. B. Nsereka, Preye Brisibe PhD
Utilization of Public Relations Strategies in Strengthening Examination Integrity in South-South Nigeria
Author: Egwurugwu, Barikuma Chike, Prof. R. N. Amadi, Prof. B. G. Nsereka, S. C. Joe PhD
Influencer Persona as Critical Identity: Construction, Audience Engagement and Sociocultural Implications for Social Media Celebrities in Rivers State
Author: Ihuoma, Ugochi Chukwuka, Prof. F. A. Amadi, Harcourt W. Dike PhD, C. J. Njoku PhD