Mobile phone accessibility, health information needs, and willingness to receive maternal health information via mobile applications among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Oshana Region, Namibia

Ester Mulenga, Hedvig NK Mendonca, Shange T. Ndakunda, Ndapunikwa Uukule, Petrus K. Shingandji, Natalia T. Ndjuluwa, Beatrix N. Ndahalele, Yoseph Worku

Abstract

Mobile technologies have proven to be effective in disseminating health information and improving health outcomes. This study assessed mobile phone accessibility, health information needs and the willingness to receive health information via mobile application among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the Oshana Region, Namibia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 337 pregnant women.  Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Most of the participants (91.7%) reported having access to mobile phones. The top five maternal health information needs identified were: activities during pregnancy, antenatal care visits, emergency preparedness, breastfeeding, and nutrition during pregnancy. Notably, 97.5% of the participants expressed willingness to receive health information via mobile applications. Mobile phone ownership was significantly associated with the willingness to receive health information through mobile applications (p = 0.022). Given the high level of mobile access among pregnant women in Namibia, there is a need to develop and disseminate health information via mobile application platforms.

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