Digital media and maternal healthcare among young women in Kenya: Use, patterns, and perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61126/dtcs.v1i2.19Keywords:
digital media, maternal healthcare, health care, young women, KenyaAbstract
This study aimed to examine the relationship between digital media use and maternal health care utilization among young pregnant mothers in Kenya. Using a mixed methods approach combining questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs), data were collected from pregnant women and new mothers aged 19–35 years in Nairobi. Using Microsoft Excel Data Analysis ToolPak Ver. 2016, primary data were statistically analyzed, while FGD data were subjected to thematic analysis and narrative interpretation. Findings revealed that 88% of participants preferred internet searches for information, 92% used different digital media during pregnancy, 56% used pregnancy apps, and 9% abstained from digital media for maternal health information. The study concludes that, in addition to the continued importance of traditional sources of information, digital media have a significant impact on the use of maternal health services. It recommends that health care providers actively usedigital media, especially apps, as educational tools to disseminate reliable information to young pregnant women and new mothers in Kenya. It also recommends that planners and policymakers incorporate digital media into maternal health interventions to increase their effectiveness.
References
Akeju, D., Okusanya, B., Okunade, K., Ajepe, A., Allsop, M. J., & Ebenso, B. (2022). Sustainability of the effects and impacts of using digital technology to extend maternal health services to rural and hard-to-reach populations: Experience from Southwest Nigeria. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 3. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgwh.2022.696529
Aksünger, N., Sanctis, T. D., Waiyaiya, E., Doeveren, R. van, Graaf, M. van der, & Janssens, W. (2022). What prevents pregnant women from adhering to the continuum of maternal care? Evidence on interrelated mechanisms from a cohort study in Kenya. BMJ Open, 12(1), e050670. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050670
Akwala, A. O. (2021). Digital medical care: Securing mothers’ lives in rural Kenya through mobile phone applications (pp. 1–18). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-8091-1.ch001
Bailey, L. F. (1987). What determines quality in qualitative research? The Market Research Society Newsletter, 44–45.
Batool, N., Shah, S. A., Dar, S. N., Skinder, S., & Jeelani, P. (2020). Impact of female literacy on infant mortality and maternal mortality in Kashmir valley: A district level analysis. GeoJournal, 85(6), 1545-1551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-019-10041-1
Bonnevie, E., Rosenberg, S. D., Goldbarg, J., Ashley-West, A., & Smyser, J. (2021). Building strong futures: The feasibility of using a targeted digital media campaign to improve knowledge about pregnancy and low birthweight among black women. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25(1), 127–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03068-1
Creswell, J. W. (2015). A concise introduction to mixed methods research. Sage.
David, Y., & Sommerlad, E. (2020). Media and information in times of crisis: The case of the COVID-19 infodemic. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70179-6_17
Dearing, J. W., & Cox, J. G. (2018). Diffusion of innovations theory, principles, and practice. Health Affairs, 37(2), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1104
Esamai, F., Nangami, M., Tabu, J., Mwangi, A., Ayuku, D., & Were, E. (2017). A system approach to improving maternal and child health care delivery in Kenya: Innovations at the community and primary care facilities (a protocol). Reproductive Health, 14(1), 105. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-017-0358-6
Esiebo, A. (2021). Maternal and child health goes digital. IDRC - International Development Research Centre. https://www.idrc.ca/en/research-in-action/maternal-and-child-health-goes-digital
Feroz,A., Perveen, S.,&Aftab,W.(2017).Role of mHealth applications for improving antenatal and postnatal care in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), 704. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2664-7
Galle, A., Semaan, A., Huysmans, E., Audet, C., Asefa, A., Delvaux, T., Afolabi, B. B., Ayadi, A. M. E., & Benova, L. (2021). A double-edged sword—telemedicine for maternal care during COVID-19: Findings from a global mixed-methods study of healthcare providers. BMJ Global Health, 6(2), e004575. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004575
Goto, R., Watanabe, Y., Yamazaki, A., Sugita, M., Takeda, S., Nakabayashi, M., & Nakamura, Y. (2021). Can digital health technologies exacerbate the health gap? A clustering analysis of mothers’ opinions toward digitizing the maternal and child health handbook. SSM-Population Health, 16, 100935. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100935
GSMA. (2020). GSMA Mobile Economy 2020 -SSA -Eng (p. 48). https://www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GSMA_MobileEconomy2020_SSA_Eng.pdf
Holst, C., Sukums, F., Radovanovic, D., Ngowi, B., Noll, J., & Winkler, A. S. (2020a). Sub-Saharan Africa-The new breeding ground for global digital health. The Lancet Digital Health, 2(4), e160–e162. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30027-3
Hookway, N., Elmer, S., & Frandsen, M. (2017). Risk, morality and emotion: Social media responses to pregnant women who smoke. Health, Risk & Society, 19(5–6), 246–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698575.2017.1385731
Katz, E., Haas, H., & Gurevitch, M. (1973). On the use of the mass media for important things. American SociologicalReview, 38(2), 164. https://doi.org/10.2307/2094393
Kemp, S. (2021). Digital in Kenya: All the statistics you need in 2021. Data Reportal Global Digital Insights. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-kenya
Kisiangani, I., Elmi, M., Bakibinga, P., Mohamed, S. F., Kisia, L., Kibe, P. M., Otieno, P., Afeich, N., Nyaga, A. A., Njoroge, N., Noor, R., & Ziraba, A. K. (2020). Persistent barriers to the use of maternal, newborn and child health services in Garissa sub-county, Kenya: A qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 277. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02955-3
KNBS, Health/Kenya, M. of, Council/Kenya, N. A. C., Institute, K. M. R., & Development/Kenya, N. C. for P. and. (2015). Kenya demographic and health survey 2014. https://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-fr308-dhs-final-reports.cfm
Lien, A. S.-Y., & Jiang, Y.-D. (2017). Integration of diffusion of innovation theory into diabetes care. Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 8(3), 259–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.12568
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G.(1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.
Locke, L. F., Silverman, S. J., & Spirduso, W. W. (2004). Reading and understanding research. Sage.
Lu, X., Zhang, R., Wu, W., Shang, X., & Liu, M. (2018). Relationship between internet health information and patient compliance based on trust: Empirical study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(8), e253. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9364
MCK, M. C. of K. (2022). State of Kenya’s media 2021 report. MCK. MfM. (2021). MfM Report: How maternal health innovations are closing the digital divide (p. 28).
MoH. (2020). Kenya mortality rate declines, CAS Health says-Ministry of Health. https://www.health.go.ke/kenya-mortality-rate-declines-cas-health-says/
Ombere, S. O. (2021). Access to maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of indigent mothers and health care providers in Kilifi County, Kenya. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613042
Patino, C. M., & Ferreira, J. C. (2018). Internal and external validity: Can you apply research study results to your patients? Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 44(3), 183. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562018000000164
Rogers, E. M. (2010). Diffusion of innovations, 4 th Edition. Google Books.
Severin, W. J., & Tankard, J. W. (1992). Communication theories: Origins, methods, and uses in the mass media (3rd ed.). Longman.
Techgist Africa. (2017). App makes life easier for pregnant women in Kenya. Techgist Africa. https://www.techgistafrica.com/specials/reviews/app-makes-life-easier-for-pregnant-women-in-kenya/
Tripp, N., Hainey, K., Liu, A., Poulton, A., Peek, M., Kim, J., & Nanan, R. (2014). An emerging model of maternity care: Smartphone, midwife, doctor? Women and Birth, 27(1), 64–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2013.11.001
Udenigwe, O., & Yaya, S. (2022). Leaving no woman or girl behind? Inclusion and participation in digital maternal health programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive Health, 19(1), 54. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01358-1
Unicef. (2021). Antenatal care. Unicef Data. https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/antenatal-care/
WHO. (2019). Maternal health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/maternal-health
Williams, B., & Grant, G. (1998). Defining ‘people-centredness’: Making the implicit explicit. Health and Social Care in the Community, 6(2), 84–94. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2524.1998.00101.x
Xie, Y., Lang, D., Lin, S., Chen, F., Sang, X., Gu, P., Wu, R., Li, Z., Zhu, X., & Ji, L. (2021a). Mapping maternal health in the new media environment: A scientometric analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13095. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413095
Yuen, E. (2022). Kenya and maternal health: Delivering results. In Think global health. https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/kenya-and-maternal-health-delivering-results
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Lydia Kwamboka Momanyi, Hezron Mogambi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
