Utilisation of mobile phones for health information seeking by women in rural Busoga sub-region, Eastern Uganda

The use of mobile phones for health information seeking is gaining attention, especially in low and middle-income countries with limited access to healthcare services. Women, who are primary seekers of health information, face challenges in accessing health information and care services in rural areas. Mobile phones have the potential to bridge this gap by providing access to health information and services. The study explored how rural women in Busoga sub-region, Eastern Uganda, utilize mobile phones for health information seeking specifically approaches used and the challenges faced. A qualitative research approach was adopted, involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with rural women, Village Health Teams (VHTs) members, and health workers. The findings reveal that rural women predominantly use mobile phones for voice calls to seek health information in real-time. They rely on calls to confirm the availability of health workers and vaccines at health centres before visiting. Text messaging is also used, specifically the phrase "call me back," as a request for a return call. The study highlights the critical role of mobile phones in bridging gaps in accessing healthcare services, particularly in emergency situations. The findings contribute to understanding the experiences of rural women in using mobile phones for health information seeking and provide insights into the challenges they face in utilizing this technology.