Utilization Of Health Information Technology In Provision Of Maternal And Child Health Care Among Nurses In The University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar

Abstract

This study was assessed utilization of health information technology in provision of maternal and child health care among nurses in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. The research design employed for the study was descriptive survey design. The sample of one hundred and ninety-six (196) registered nurses/midwives from the population of nurses providing maternal and child healthcare in maternity ward, children’s ward, pediatric ward, labour ward, antenatal clinic and postnatal clinic at UCTH, Calabar using simple random sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a validated structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistic, charts, frequencies tables and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that majority (87.2%) of nurses working in UCTH, Calabar use paper based routine health information system. The factors inhibiting utilization of health information technology among nurses to deliver maternal and child healthcare in UCTH, Calabar include: inadequate knowledge of informatics, lack of comprehensive training of nurses on ICT utilization, unavailability of health information technology tools, lack of constant power supply Based on the findings of the study the it was recommended that health policy makers, hospital managements and nurse leaders should ensure that electronic health information technology are utilized in healthcare service at UCTH, Calabar.