Online information seeking behaviour among people living with HIV in selected public hospitals of Tanzania

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to determine factors that influence people living with HIV (PLHIV) to engage in internet-based HIV information seeking behaviour in selected Tanzanian public regional hospitals. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a questionnaire-based survey to 221 PLHIV in two regional public hospitals in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They assessed the validity and reliability of the measurement model by using exploratory factor analysis and also used hierarchical regressions to examine the research hypotheses by using Statistical Package for Social Science. Findings The study found that there is low usage of internet (24.3 per cent) to search online HIV information. Factors related to attitude and information source accessibility predicted usage intentions of internet, while facilitating conditions, information source accessibility and usage intention of internet determined actual use of internet among PLHIV. Age moderated the effects of information source quality and social influence on usage intention of internet, and the effects of the information source accessibility and social influence on actual use of internet. The findings imply that younger PLHIV were more likely to use internet to access HIV information than the older respondents due to perceived ease of accessing information and quality of the online content. Further, older PLHIV were more influenced by the views of others when making decisions to use internet. Practical implications Health-care providers and libraries need to conduct regular studies on health needs of patients, and promote benefits of accessing online information; website designers need to design user-friendly databases; public libraries need to include a section on health information; hospital and public librarians need to provide catalogues of health information resources on their websites; and health-care providers need to improve technological infrastructure. Originality/value This is a comprehensive study that provides empirical findings to better understand the HIV information seeking behaviour from actual internet users, particularly factors that may influence PLHIV to seek online information in Tanzania.

Towards Enhancing Access of HIV/AIDS Healthcare Information in Tanzania: Is a Mobile Application Platform a Way Forward?

“…However, there is no any mobile application platform for dissemination of HIV/AIDS healthcare information in Tanzania to date. [6] made a call for online dissemination of HIV/AIDS healthcare information since there is a considerably people's high effort to try to access to internet-based HIV information, HIV/AIDS clinical tips and recommendations.…”

“…Moreover, this study finds that there is a massive increase in number of people who seek the HIV/AIDS related information from the internet sources. [6] stipulated that there is a considerably people's high effort to access to internet-based HIV information. Some previous studies indicated that Internet technologies improvements have vastly increased access of healthcare information [36][37][38][39].…”

“…[3] described that among different factors for fear of stigma among PLHIV, 37.4% fear for unethical treatment of PLHIV and 31.1% for unofficial disclosure of their health status. The timely access to the relevant HIV/AIDS healthcare information can help people in making informed decisions of living a healthy life [6,7]. The living of healthy life includes the change behavior, increase ability to self-care and more committed to treatment with more life hope and empowerment.…”

HIV/AIDS Healthcare Information Delivery in Tanzania using Integrated Mobile Application and Web-based System: System’s Functional and Non-functional Requirements

“…There is a need of extending the use of the mobile Web- [10] recommended that the HIV/AIDS public care providers, and the HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Centers (CTCs) to use the electronic media to provide access to relevant and formal HIV/AIDS healthcare information. Particularly, healthcare information delivery for HIV care and treatment should make use of internet and mobile phones to reach many people for broader coverage and impact.…”

“…This fear is due to the lack of a secured platform for accessing the HIV/AIDS healthcare information services. [10] recommended that the HIV/AIDS public healthcare providers, and the HIV/AIDS CTCs to use the electronic platform to provide a confidential access to relevant and formal HIV/AIDS healthcare information. Despite the need for the m-health platform for enhancement of HIV/AIDS healthcare delivery, there is no any m-health platform for dissemination of HIV/AIDS healthcare information in Tanzania to date.…”