Dataset Information

Gender differentials in readiness and use of mHealth services in a rural area of Bangladesh.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traditional gender roles result in women lagging behind men in the use of modern technologies, especially in developing countries. Although there is rapid uptake of mobile phone use in Bangladesh, investigation of gender differences in the ownership, access and use of mobile phones in general and mHealth in particular has been limited. This paper presents gender differentials in the ownership of mobile phones and knowledge of available mHealth services in a rural area of Bangladesh.

Methods

We interviewed 4915 randomly selected respondents aged 18 years and above. Associations between gender and knowledge of available mHealth services, use of existing mHealth services and intentions to use mHealth services in the future were examined by multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for the effect of categorised covariates.

Results

Of the 4915 respondents to the survey, 61.8% of men (1213/1964) and 34.4% of women (1015/2951) owned a mobile phone. For men, mobile phone ownership was highest among those aged 18-29 years (n = 663, 76.3%), and for women among those aged 30-39 years (n = 825, 44.7%). A higher proportion of men owned phones compared to women, irrespective of socioeconomic status (SES) as indicated by asset index (p < 0.001). Although mobile phone ownership on average was lower among women, they were more likely to share their mobile phone with their family members (19.7%) compared to men (11.6%, p < 0.001). Greater number of men were more likely to be aware of the use of mobile phones for healthcare compared to women (38.5% vs 26.5%, p < 0.001). Knowledge about available mHealth services was lower among women than men; however, intention to use mHealth services in the future was high for both genders, irrespective of age, education and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

Compared to men, women are less likely to own a mobile phone and less aware of available mHealth services, despite high intention to use mHealth among both genders. To optimise the use of mHealth services and to achieve equity of use, uptake strategies should target women, with a focus on the poorer and less educated groups.

SUBMITTER: Khatun F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5563057 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Gender differentials in readiness and use of mHealth services in a rural area of Bangladesh.

Khatun Fatema F Heywood Anita E AE Hanifi Syed Manzoor Ahmed SMA Rahman M Shafiqur MS Ray Pradeep K PK Liaw Siaw-Teng ST Bhuiya Abbas A

BMC health services research 20170818 1

<h4>Background</h4>Traditional gender roles result in women lagging behind men in the use of modern technologies, especially in developing countries. Although there is rapid uptake of mobile phone use in Bangladesh, investigation of gender differences in the ownership, access and use of mobile phones in general and mHealth in particular has been limited. This paper presents gender differentials in the ownership of mobile phones and knowledge of available mHealth services in a rural area of Bangl ...[more]

PMID: 28821243

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Increasing the level of birth preparedness and complication readiness (BP/CR) is one of the key interventions to promote optimal utilization of skilled maternal health services. It is therefore essential to determine the women's ability to recognize the danger signs and the level of BP/CR. This information can be used to design more effective health interventions. OBJECTIVES:This study was conducted to determine the knowledge in recognition of maternal complications, and the level and factors associated with BP/CR in rural Matlab, Bangladesh. METHODS:A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from June- October 2015 on a randomly selected 2262 women who delivered live or stillbirth during the year 2014. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used. RESULTS:The proportion of study participants with "good knowledge", measured by the ability to recognise three or more danger signs, in pregnancy and delivery were 26% and 23%, respectively. Out of four BP/CR components, about 15% women saved money, 12% women identified facility for delivery, 9.6% women planned to deliver by skilled birth attendant and 5.3% of women arranged transport. About 12% of women were "well prepared", measured by planning of at least two components, for skilled childbirth and emergency obstetric complications. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, asset index, antenatal care (ANC) visits and knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and delivery were associated with BP/CR. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of "well prepared" was 4.09 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.45-6.82) among women with an asset index of five (richest), compared with women in the asset index of one (poorest). The odds of "well prepared" was six times (OR 5.98, 95% CI: 3.85-9.28) higher for women with four or more ANC visits, compared to women with none or one ANC visit. In comparison to women with "poor knowledge" on maternal danger signs during pregnancy and delivery, the odds ratio of "well prepared" among women with good knowledge during pregnancy and in delivery were 1.95 (95% CI: 1.44-2.63) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.28-2.36), respectively. CONCLUSION:The study revealed a low level of maternal knowledge of danger signs and BP/CR among pregnant women. Further, low socioeconomic status, fewer ANC visits and poor knowledge in recognition of dangers signs on maternal health were associated with low BP/CR. More emphasis should be placed on the quality of information offered to the pregnant women during the prenatal contact and women from low socio-economic gradient should be prioritized to optimize the impact of future BP/CR interventions.

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Dataset Information

Gender differentials in readiness and use of mHealth services in a rural area of Bangladesh.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Gender differentials in readiness and use of mHealth services in a rural area of Bangladesh.

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