Application of information and communication technology for preventive of communicable disease by public health workers in states of northern Nigeria

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the Application of Information and Communication Technology in communicable disease prevention by public health workers in northern state of Nigeria. Four research questions were raised for the study and a case approach was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three respondents. The respondents were heads of information and communication units of the public health department of Benue, Gombe and Kaduna state ministries of health. Interview was used as instrument for data collection. The data was analyzed using content analysis and coding. The finding revealed that radio, internet, television and mobile phones were used in communicable disease prevention by public health workers. The study also revealed that Surveillance, education and awareness, mobilization, outbreak alert and appointment reminders were the activities public health workers use ICT facilities for in communicable disease prevention. On usefulness of ICT facilities in communicable disease prevention, the study revealed that ICT targets wide audience saves time address the shortage of staff and eliminate the problems of geographical location. Factors that affect the use of ICTs for communicable disease prevention such as power failure, network problem, failure of equipment, maintenance of ICT facilities and manpower shortage were revealed. The study concluded that ICT facilities were used in communicable disease prevention despite the challenges discovered. In view of this, a number of recommendations were made including addressing the problems of power supply, designing or activating existing websites and proper maintenance of ICT facilities anytime they are used to ensure they are functioning and serving.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, communicable Disease, Public Health Workers