Effects of Internet Broadband Access on Service Delivery: Case of Health Care Sector in Elgeyo- Marakwet County, Kenya.
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Chemjor, Titus Kiptum
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Broadband Internet access in the healthcare sector worldwide is essential for improvement
in service delivery. The extent to which hospitals are connected to broadband Internet
varies worldwide. In Kenya, Internet broadband access has been adopted in the healthcare
sector but its penetration differs from one county to another. The current study sought to
determine the effects of Internet broadband access on service delivery in the health care
sector in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The specific objectives include to determine how
access to Internet infrastructure affects service delivery in health care, to establish how
Internet speed affects service delivery in health care and to find-out how broadband pricing
affects service delivery in the health care. The study was anchored on the diffusion of
innovation theory. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The target
population was 240 respondents comprised of 24 Doctors, 40 Nurses, 40 Clinical doctors,
24 Medical Laboratory Technologist, 16 Pharmacist, 16 Nutritionist or Physiotherapist, 16
Health Records officers, 8 Radiographers or Medical Engineers and 56 management staffs.
Both stratified and simple random sampling techniques were adopted in the study. The data
for the study was collected using both questionnaires and interview schedule. The current
study adopted content validity, which was assessed on the basis of expert’s opinion.
Reliability of the research instruments was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Quantitative
data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics while
qualitative data content analysis. The findings revealed that Internet infrastructure had a
positive and significant effect on service delivery (β=0.459, p < 0.05). Internet speed had
a positive and insignificant effect on service delivery (β= 0.255, p>0.05) and broadband
pricing had a negative and significant effect on service delivery (β= -0.601, p < 0.05). The
study concluded that Internet infrastructure affects service delivery in the healthcare sector.
This is attributed to proper functioning of Internet server applications which contributes to
enhancement of efficiency in the services offered at the facilities. The study also concludes
that Internet speed affects service delivery in the healthcare sector. This is attributed to
Internet transfer technology that is used at the facility affecting Internet speed which inturn affects service delivery and Internet transfer technology which makes services
affordable at the facility. The study also concludes that Broadband pricing affects service
delivery in the healthcare sector in Elgeyo Marakwet County. This is attributed to the price
set for Internet broadband access which affects how they offered services at hospitals. The
study recommends that the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) should consider
internet infrastructure, Internet speed and Broadband pricing when enhancing Broadband
Internet penetration in the healthcare sector in the marginalized counties in Kenya.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fullfilment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, April 2023.
Keywords
Internet Broadband Access, Service Delivery, Health Care Sector, Elgeyo- Marakwet County, Kenya