DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION IN POST CORONAVIRUSES (COVID–19) ERA: A STUDY OF OJO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The primary healthcare service exists to implement policies of the state government in the provision of essential healthcare to the local communities in Lagos state. However, with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare services provided at the local government level in Lagos state has not been sustained in spite, of the huge financial support by the state government. Within the framework of cybernetics theory, this study examined the effect of digital technology on primary healthcare administration in Lagos state in the Covid–19 era with particular reference to Ojo local government area. The population of the study was two hundred and thirteen (213). The study employed purposeful sampling method to select the sample for the study while the sample size was determined via Taro Yamane formula. Data collected were analyzed with simple percentage while the hypotheses were tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistical tool to determine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Findings of the study revealed that there is a signification relationship between digital technology and accessibility to healthcare services; and also there is a correlation between digital technology and quality of maternal and child health care in Ojo LGA. The study concludes while that digital technologies are significantly imperative to primary health care in Ojo LGA especially in post covid-19 era, however, lack of technological equipment and poor electricity poses constrain to primary health centers in the usage of digital technology in Ojo LGA.. It recommend among others that Ojo LGA and Lagos state government should equipped the primary health centers with the relevant technological materials and ensure proper means of empowering these equipment.