The Utilization Of Information Communication And Technology By Mothers In Accessing Maternal And Child Health Information

This study was carried out to examine the utilization of information communication and technology by mothers in accessing maternal and child health information with special reference to mother and child hospital. Specifically, the study aims at examining the methods mothers adopt in accessing MCH information using ICT, find out the challenges encountered by mothers in accessing MCH information using ICT and investigate the benefit of mothers in using ICT on maternal and child health information. A total of 30 responses were validated from the survey. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that the methods mothers adopt in accessing MCH information using ICT are by using mobile phones, listening to radio, using the internet| computer and watching television. The study also revealed the challenges encountered by mothers in accessing MCH information using ICT are epileptic power supply, income is low; I can’t afford them, language of content and poor mobile phone network.

Lastly, the study revealed  the benefit of mothers in using ICT on maternal and child health information is that It helps to promote, protect and maintain the health of the mother during pregnancy, helps to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate,  helps to teach mother regarding the child care and personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. The study thereby recommend that governments and other stakeholders involved in the promotion of MCH should ensure proper positioning and regulation of the use of ICT for health promotion for maternal and child health in Nigeria. Also, health policies should also target subsidizing the costs associated with the use of ICT by women of reproductive age to increase their access to relevant maternal health information. Furthermore, alternative power sources, such as portable power banks (for mothers), solar systems and inverters (for the health facilities), should be provided to ensure effective use of ICT for health promotion.