FACTOTS AFFECTING ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG HEALTH WORKERS: THE CASE OF WEST ARSI ZONE GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

For proper diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases up to dated and timely information is prerequisite to the success of health workers (Afolayan and Oyekunle, 2014). Besides, Healthcare is an information intensive industry and health workers rely on access to correct and comprehensive information, when and where they need it (Nichols et al., 2008). Despite its multi dimensional functions, ICTs accessibility to health worker and their utilization status in west arsi zone is little known. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate access and utilization of ICTs among HWs in the zone. This study was undertaken in the Oromia National Regional State in the West Arsi Zone government health institutions. A total of 281 respondents were selected by using stratified proportional sampling, simple random sampling and purposively sampling. Cross sectional study design using quantitative and qualitative approaches has been employed. Data was collected by using self administered questionnaire and structured but in depth interview methods. The respondent rate was 94.31%. Both descriptive and logistic regression was used for the data analysis. The overall ICTs utilization status (at health institution and residence) has been found to be 34%. A test of the full model against a constant only model was statistically significant, indicating that the predictors as a set reliably distinguished between ICT users and non users (chi square = 174.474, p < .0001 with df = 10). Nagelkerke’s R2 of .846 indicated a strong relationship between predictors and dependent variables. The overall prediction success was 90.9% (90.9% for non user of ICTs and 91.1% for ICT users)). In addition to independent variables “distance” and “internet connection speed” that were not added to logistic regression but found statistically significant, five independent variables (ICTs accessibility, Health workers residence, sex, HWs attitudes and ICT service cost) made a significant prediction to affect ICTs utilization (p<0.05). The study revealed that ICTs accessibility highly affects ICTs utilization. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders shall work together to improve ICTs accessibility both in urban and rural health institutions so as to enable HWs get up-todated and timely information.