Assessing the effectiveness of information and technology on maternal health care access: evidence from Uganda DHS 2016

Abstract

Background: The growing importance of information and technology in improving healthcare access, though increasingly stressed, is not adequately researched. Seventy-five percent of maternal deaths in Uganda still arise from preventable diseases, partly due to a lack of awareness. The current study sought to establish the role of information and technology; and other demographic factors that affect maternal healthcare access. Methods: We estimate an ordered logistic regression on the UDHS 2016 data set. The study sample consisted of 11311 mothers aged 15-49. The study model distance and money to measure the severity of accessing health care services. Results: Information and technology play significant roles in improving access to healthcare. The significance increases the higher the frequency. Those who listen to the radio or watch television at least once a week are less likely to report severe problems in accessing health care than those who do not listen or watch at all (-0.11; -030) respectively. Reading newspapers or magazines less than once a week significantly affects healthcare access (-0.09). Possession of a mobile phone improves health care access (-0.60). Aging limits health access while urban residence (0.12), wealth (-0.42), education (-0.26) and partner’s occupation (-0.30) improve maternal health access. Conclusion: Information and technology play an essential role in improving maternal access to health care services and the frequency with which the information is provided matters. Access to maternal health care is positively related to urban residence, more education, a higher level of wealth index, and the partner’s occupation and negatively related to aging.