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Assessment of Awareness and Availability of E-Health Technologies in Selected Health Facilities in Imo State
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Public Health
Abstract
E-health technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, but their adoption and effectiveness in resource-limited settings like Nigeria remain understudied. This cross-sectional study assessed the awareness and availability of e-health technologies among 579 healthcare workers in selected health facilities in Imo State, Nigeria. While 70% of respondents were aware of e-health, only 46% understood the concept, and 24% admitted to knowing little about it. Awareness was significantly associated with facility level, years of experience, and educational attainment (p<0.05). Electronic health records (31.1%) and health information systems (26.3%) were the most common e-health technologies available, but overall availability was limited. Inadequate infrastructure, inconsistent internet connectivity, and insufficient maintenance posed significant barriers to e-health adoption. Although 57.3% of electronic devices were functional, 22.3% were slightly damaged, and 20.4% were completely damaged. Service disruptions due to poor network connectivity were frequent, ranging from rarely (28.8%) to many times a day (18.0%). E-health availability was not uniform across departments, with some units like consulting clinics (25.5%) and HIV/AIDS treatment clinics (33.9%) having more access. The study highlights the need for targeted training, improved infrastructure, and consistent technical support to realize the full potential of e-health in enhancing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes in Nigeria.
Keywords
E-health technologies, Healthcare workers, Resource-limited settings, Electronic health records, Health information systems
How to cite this paper
@article{1708630,
author = {Egbuna Hyacinth Chukwuebuka, Oparaocha Evangeline Tochi, Iwuala Chimezie Christian, Dozie Winnie Ugonma, Ibe Nkechinyere Onyeka Sally; Nwoke Eunice Anyalewechi},
title = {Assessment of Awareness and Availability of E-Health Technologies in Selected Health Facilities in Imo State},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {8},
number = {11},
pages = {1187-1198},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1708630.pdf},
abstract = {E-health technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, but their adoption and effectiveness in resource-limited settings like Nigeria remain understudied. This cross-sectional study assessed the awareness and availability of e-health technologies among 579 healthcare workers in selected health facilities in Imo State, Nigeria. While 70% of respondents were aware of e-health, only 46% understood the concept, and 24% admitted to knowing little about it. Awareness was significantly associated with facility level, years of experience, and educational attainment (p<0.05). Electronic health records (31.1%) and health information systems (26.3%) were the most common e-health technologies available, but overall availability was limited. Inadequate infrastructure, inconsistent internet connectivity, and insufficient maintenance posed significant barriers to e-health adoption. Although 57.3% of electronic devices were functional, 22.3% were slightly damaged, and 20.4% were completely damaged. Service disruptions due to poor network connectivity were frequent, ranging from rarely (28.8%) to many times a day (18.0%). E-health availability was not uniform across departments, with some units like consulting clinics (25.5%) and HIV/AIDS treatment clinics (33.9%) having more access. The study highlights the need for targeted training, improved infrastructure, and consistent technical support to realize the full potential of e-health in enhancing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes in Nigeria.},
keywords = {E-health technologies, Healthcare workers, Resource-limited settings, Electronic health records, Health information systems},
month = {May},
}