Abstract
BackgroundInformation and communication technologies have become a vital infrastructural asset for use in the retention of rural health workers. However, little is known about the potential influence of ICT use, perceptions of health workers on ICT in healthcare delivery, and contribution of ICT to health care providers’ retention in rural and remote areas in rural post-war and conflict situations of northern Uganda.MethodsData from interviews were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed.ResultsParticipants generally exhibited low confidence, knowledge and low ICT skills. Majority of participants, however, perceived ICT as beneficial in relation to job performance and health care provider retention in rural areas. Common barriers for the implementation and use of ICT in health centres were inadequate ICT knowledge and skills, poor Internet networks, inadequate computers, inadequate power supply, lack of Internet Modems and expensive access to outside computer centres.ConclusionsThis qualitative study showed low confidence, poor knowledge and skills in ICT usage but positive perceptions about the benefits and contributions of ICT. These findings suggest the need for specific investment in ICT infrastructural development for health care providers in remote rural areas of northern Uganda.
Highlights
Information and communication technologies have become a vital infrastructural asset for use in the retention of rural health workers
Just as the case in favour of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) use in promoting the retention of health care providers in rural areas has been made, it is reasonable to explore the perceptions of health
Study design and sites The study was conducted in the remote rural areas of six districts in northern Uganda of Adjumani, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo and Pader, all of which were affected by the armed conflict between Uganda government forced and Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army rebels from 1986 to 2006
Summary
Information and communication technologies have become a vital infrastructural asset for use in the retention of rural health workers. Data on retention of health professionals in Uganda is reported as inadequate; some of the top strategies that are thought to support retention are: providing accommodation, providing salary top-up for health care providers willing to work in hard-to-reach areas, improving the style of supervision and management, education and training opportunities for health workers, improving work conditions, providing social needs support, and health and access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) [2, 3, 6, 15,16,17,18] Despite all these strategies having been tried, significant shortage of health professionals still remains a big challenge [19, 20], especially having trained health professionals retained in remote rural areas [21, 22]. Reports in Uganda indicates that only 55%, 45% and 33% posts were filled in HC IV, HC III and HC II in the financial year 2009/2010 respectively resulting in inequitable distribution of health care workers [24, 25]
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