Mobile Phone Technology Acceptance and Usability in the Delivery of Health Services among Health Surveillance Assistants in Rural Areas of Malawi

This paper investigates the relationship between acceptance and usability of mobile phones in the delivery of health services among Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) in rural areas of Malawi. A questionnaire was distributed to 44 HSAs, however only 38 were returned correctly completed. Firstly, the results show that HSAs in the area had a positive attitude towards mobile phones (M=5.02, SD=0.901) on a 6 points Likert Scale. Furthermore, the results show that the HSAs attitude was positive irrespective of gender and age. However, the attitude was moderated by level of education. HSAs with Junior Certificate of Education had lower attitude towards mobile phones than those with Malawi Schools Certificate of Education. Secondly, the results show that HSAs perceived usability of the Mobile Phones in support of health delivery services was positive irrespective of gender, age or level of education. Finally, the results showed that there was no significant relationship between mobile phone acceptance and usability among HSAs. The study was, however, limited to HSAs who had received mobile phones and were residing in the rural villages under study. Further, the study was based on a convenient sample that was dominated by young, male and relatively educated individuals.