Women’s Use of Mass Media and Information Technology to Curb Pre- and Post-Natal Complications in Rural Cameroon

Abstract

Pre- and post-natal complications in Cameroon are a serious cause for concern. Neonatal mortality in 2023 was 54 deaths per 1000 live births. Common causes include prematurity, asphyxia, infection, congenital malformations, and neonatal tetanus. Meanwhile, hemorrhage, hypertensive diseases and their complications, sepsis/infection, and HIV/AIDS are leading causes of death among child-bearing mothers in Cameroon. This study, conducted in ten rural communities in Cameroon, interrogates how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and conventional media can be used to fight against these complications. A total of 1351 women who are pregnant or were pregnant within the past five years were surveyed using a questionnaire with 48 variables split into seven sections: media use and knowledge; other channels of health communication; pre-natal complications; pre-natal healthcare; delivery complications; post natal complications; and demographics. Findings suggest that only 10.4% of respondents rely on ICTs (mobilephones and Internet) for their healthcare education during pregnancy and after delivery. This is due to limited accessibilty, affordability, and low literacy levels. Results show that ICTs like smartphones are valuable in communicating privacy and sensitive health information. For conventional media, respondents prefer television (39.5%) and radio (29.5%) because they are available, reliable, affordable, and entertaining. Overall, 1190 (88.3%) respondents attest that hospital talks by doctors, midwives, and nurses are the most effective way of obtaining reliable information to tackle pre- and post-natal issues in rural Cameroon. Hence, findings valorize interpersonal communication. Recommendations illustrate the need to democratize and simplify healthcare information in the media and during one-on-one interactions between health providers and mothers, so as to speed health information adoption and use by women of child-bearing age.