A model for adoption of information systems for antenatal healthcare practice in Wakiso District

Abstract

Globally, information systems have become ubiquitous and shown a potential to transform and benefit antenatal care delivery to expectant mothers in Uganda. The benefits associated with this include accessibility to information about antenatal care, when to start antenatal care, monitoring the progress of the mother’s pregnancy, following up with medical checkups and critical updates. The successful adoption of information systems in antenatal healthcare practice can lead to reduced maternal deaths and pregnancy-related complications among expectant mothers. However, despite the identified demonstrable benefits of information systems, their adoption by expectant mothers, healthcare practitioners and other concerned people have always been slow in Uganda. Thus, it has been difficult to realize the associated benefits. This is attributed to the fact that factors affecting the use of information systems in antenatal healthcare practice are not well understood in developing economies like Uganda. This study aimed to determine the factors that favor adoption of information systems for antenatal healthcare delivery in Uganda and to create a model that explains the intention to adopt information systems in antenatal care practice. A descriptive field study was carried out using questionnaires to identify the factors for successful adoption of information systems for antenatal Healthcare practice in Uganda. The results from the field study were used to extend the Technology Acceptance Model and Technology Task Fit models in order to design one that best explains the adoption of information systems in antenatal Healthcare practice in Uganda. The derived model was evaluated in a questionnaire-based study using Healthcare experts working in antenatal care sections. The results revealed that Task Characteristics, Technology Characteristics, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Trust, System Value and System Knowledge significantly influence the behavioral intention to use information systems for antenatal Healthcare practice in Uganda. The model combines the tested strengths of information system adoption and usage model with the factors fit for adoption of information systems in antenatal Healthcare practice in Uganda. The model can be adopted for use by other economic and technological developing countries with similar contexts as Uganda.