Project – Influence of Digital Health Information on Maternal Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour among Women of Reproductive Age

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Maternal health remains a major public health concern globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where women continue to experience preventable complications and deaths during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour is an important determinant of maternal health outcomes because timely utilization of antenatal care, skilled delivery services, postnatal care, family planning, immunization, health screening and appropriate referral services can substantially reduce the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women commence antenatal care during the first trimester and receive comprehensive, woman-centred care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. However, the availability of health services does not automatically guarantee their utilization because decisions about when, where and whether to seek care are influenced by knowledge, perceptions, socioeconomic circumstances, accessibility, previous experiences and information available to women (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016).

In Nigeria, maternal healthcare utilization remains an important public health issue despite improvements in health infrastructure and the expansion of primary healthcare services. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reported that approximately two-thirds of women aged 15–49 received antenatal care from a skilled provider, while only a smaller proportion initiated antenatal care during the first trimester as recommended (National Population Commission [NPC] & ICF, 2019). The same survey demonstrated continuing gaps in maternal healthcare utilization, particularly in the timing and adequacy of antenatal care and the use of skilled delivery services. These patterns indicate that the challenge facing maternal health in Nigeria is not simply the physical availability of healthcare facilities but also the factors that shape women’s decisions to seek and continue using appropriate maternal healthcare services.

Healthcare-seeking behaviour refers broadly to the decisions and actions individuals undertake when they perceive a need for healthcare. In the context of maternal health, it includes recognition of pregnancy-related health needs, decisions to seek professional advice, timing of antenatal registration, frequency of clinic attendance, choice of healthcare provider, place of delivery, use of skilled birth attendants, response to pregnancy danger signs and utilization of postnatal services. Maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour is therefore multidimensional and can be influenced by demographic, socioeconomic, cultural, psychological and health-system factors. Hirose et al. (2017), in their systematic review of obstetric care in Nigeria, identified delayed care-seeking, inadequate prenatal care and other barriers as important contributors to adverse maternal and obstetric outcomes.

One factor that has received increasing attention in contemporary healthcare is access to health information. Health information enables individuals to understand diseases, recognize symptoms, evaluate risks, make decisions and identify appropriate sources of professional care. Traditionally, pregnant women obtained health information from healthcare workers, relatives, friends, religious organizations, community members, radio, television, newspapers and other interpersonal or mass-media sources. A systematic review by Yousefi et al. (2019) found that pregnant women’s information needs commonly included issues relating to the unborn child, nutrition, pregnancy and childbirth, while health professionals, family and friends, and the Internet were among the important sources of information. The review also identified barriers such as embarrassment, inadequate information resources and difficulties accessing health providers.

The expansion of digital technologies has fundamentally transformed the way health information is produced, accessed and shared. Digital health encompasses the use of digital technologies, including mobile phones, websites, social media, mobile applications, electronic health platforms, telemedicine, text messaging and online communities, to support health and healthcare. The WHO recognizes digital health as an important component of contemporary health-system development and has emphasized the potential of digital interventions to improve access to health information, healthcare services and health-system efficiency (WHO, 2019). Digital technologies can make health information available beyond the physical boundaries of healthcare facilities and can allow individuals to obtain information at convenient times and locations.

Digital health information may be particularly relevant to women of reproductive age because reproductive health is associated with numerous informational needs across the life course. Women may search for information about conception, fertility, pregnancy symptoms, antenatal registration, nutrition, danger signs, medication, exercise, fetal development, preparation for childbirth, breastfeeding, contraception, postpartum recovery and newborn care. The Internet and social media have increasingly become platforms through which women seek answers to such questions. Sayakhot and Carolan-Olah (2016) observed that pregnant women use the Internet for pregnancy-related information, although the quality and reliability of online information remain important concerns.

The use of digital health information has also become increasingly relevant to maternal healthcare because digital platforms can provide reminders, educational messages, appointment information, communication with health professionals and guidance about when to seek care. Mobile health interventions, often described as mHealth, can provide health information through SMS, mobile applications, voice calls and other mobile technologies. Evidence suggests that digital communication can influence maternal health behaviour. For example, Amoakoh-Coleman et al. (2016) found that mHealth interventions have potential to support maternal and child healthcare in low- and middle-income settings. Similarly, a systematic review and meta-analysis by Lee et al. (2016) found that SMS-based interventions could improve antenatal-care attendance and skilled birth attendance in low- and middle-income countries. One meta-analysis reported significant improvements in focused antenatal-care visits and skilled birth attendance among women who received text messages.

Digital health information can influence healthcare-seeking behaviour through several pathways. First, it can improve knowledge by exposing women to information about pregnancy, complications and available healthcare services. Second, it can increase awareness of danger signs, potentially encouraging women to seek care earlier when complications arise. Third, reminders can reduce forgetfulness and encourage women to attend scheduled appointments. Fourth, online communication can reduce informational barriers by allowing women to ask questions or obtain clarification without immediately visiting a health facility. Fifth, digital information can increase women’s confidence and participation in health-related decisions. The WHO has reported that digital health technologies can improve women’s access to healthcare services, provide essential health information, strengthen maternal health and support women’s empowerment.

The relationship between digital health information and maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour, however, should not be viewed as automatically positive. The Internet contains both reliable and unreliable health information. Women may encounter misinformation, contradictory advice, advertisements, unverified remedies and information that is not appropriate to their individual medical circumstances. Lupton (2016) noted that digital health practices can provide opportunities for greater patient participation but also introduce challenges relating to information quality, trust and interpretation. A review of Internet health-information seeking among pregnant women similarly emphasized concerns regarding the accuracy of online information and the implications of such information for women’s decision-making (Gleeson et al., 2022).

The quality of digital health information is therefore an important consideration. Information from recognized hospitals, government health agencies, professional healthcare organizations and qualified health practitioners may provide more reliable guidance than information from anonymous social media accounts or unverified websites. Pregnant women also differ in their ability to assess online information. Digital literacy, health literacy, educational attainment, language, socioeconomic status and previous experience with digital technologies may influence whether women can locate, understand, evaluate and appropriately apply digital health information.

Digital inequality may further affect the relationship between digital health information and healthcare-seeking behaviour. Access to smartphones, reliable Internet connectivity, electricity and affordable data is not uniform across populations. Although mobile-phone ownership has expanded considerably in Nigeria, differences in socioeconomic circumstances can determine who benefits most from digital health innovations. The WHO has emphasized that expanding digital health requires attention not only to technology but also to digital health literacy and equitable engagement.

Nigeria has increasingly recognized digital health as a strategy for strengthening its health system. The country’s National Digital Health Strategy provides a framework for the application of digital technologies to improve health information systems, service delivery and health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic further demonstrated the usefulness of digital technologies for maintaining communication and access to healthcare when conventional health-service delivery was disrupted. In Nigeria, adaptations to digital health interventions during the pandemic included virtual sessions and other technology-supported approaches to maintaining maternal and newborn health services. Evidence from WHO-supported work in Nigeria also showed that training women in smartphone use and digital literacy helped them participate more effectively in virtual activities.

The maternal health relevance of digital technology has continued beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent evidence indicates that women in low- and middle-income countries have experienced digital maternity care as a means of obtaining reassurance, education and support, although access and equity gaps remain. Dasgupta et al. (2026) found that digital health adaptations created opportunities for education and empowerment among women while also revealing persistent challenges related to access and unequal digital participation.

In Nigeria specifically, emerging evidence suggests that the effectiveness of digital maternal and newborn health interventions depends not only on technological access but also on behavioural, gender and sociocultural factors. Ehiemere et al. (2026) reported that digital literacy gaps, gender relations, sociocultural beliefs and household decision-making can shape the adoption of digital maternal, newborn and child health technologies. This is significant because information alone may not translate into healthcare utilization if women face financial constraints, lack autonomy in healthcare decisions, experience transportation difficulties or distrust formal health facilities.

The relevance of these issues is particularly evident at the primary healthcare level. Primary healthcare centres are often the first formal point of contact between women and the health system. They provide antenatal care, health education, immunization, family planning, basic laboratory services, maternal and child health services, referrals and postnatal care. Consequently, the extent to which women utilize primary healthcare centres for maternal health services is an important indicator of the effectiveness of the primary healthcare system. When women have adequate information about the importance of antenatal care, danger signs, skilled delivery and postnatal follow-up, they may be more likely to seek appropriate services.

Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State provides an important setting for examining this issue. As part of the Lagos metropolitan environment, Ikorodu has experienced substantial population growth, urban expansion and increasing dependence on various forms of communication and digital technologies. Women of reproductive age in the area may obtain maternal-health information from healthcare workers as well as through WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Google searches, health websites, mobile applications, SMS messages and other online platforms. At the same time, women may continue to depend on relatives, friends, religious leaders and informal sources of advice.

The coexistence of formal healthcare information and digitally mediated information raises important questions about how women make maternal healthcare decisions. A woman who reads online that a particular pregnancy symptom is normal may decide not to visit a healthcare centre, while another woman who learns about a danger sign through a digital platform may seek immediate professional care. Similarly, a woman who receives an SMS reminder about antenatal appointments may attend more consistently, whereas exposure to misleading information may encourage self-medication or reliance on unqualified advice. Therefore, digital health information can potentially function either as a facilitator or as a barrier to appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviour depending on its quality, accessibility, credibility and interpretation.

Research on pregnant women’s digital information-seeking has demonstrated that women value timely, accessible and personalized information. A meta-ethnographic review of perinatal women’s experiences found that digital technologies could provide valuable knowledge, empowerment and self-confidence, while women simultaneously expressed the need for credible, personalized and supportive information (Wong et al., 2022). These findings suggest that digital health information may influence not only what women know but also how confident they feel about making healthcare decisions.

Despite the growing literature on digital health, there remains a need for context-specific evidence on the relationship between digital health information and maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age in Nigerian primary healthcare settings. Existing studies have frequently focused on particular digital interventions, pregnant women, telemedicine, Internet use or maternal health outcomes, while fewer studies have directly examined how women’s exposure to digital health information influences their decisions to utilize primary healthcare services. This gap is important because access to information does not necessarily lead to appropriate utilization of services.

The present study therefore focuses on the influence of digital health information on maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age attending selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. The study considers digital health information in terms of women’s exposure to and use of mobile phones, social media, websites, online health platforms, mobile applications, SMS and related digital channels for maternal-health information. It further examines whether the information obtained through these channels is associated with behaviours such as early antenatal registration, regular antenatal attendance, use of skilled maternal healthcare services, prompt response to pregnancy-related danger signs and utilization of postnatal care.

Understanding this relationship is important for public health practice. If digital health information is found to positively influence maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour, primary healthcare authorities can strengthen digital communication, mobile reminders, online health education and credible social-media engagement as complementary strategies for maternal health promotion. If, however, digital misinformation, low digital literacy or lack of trust limits the usefulness of digital information, interventions can be designed to improve digital health literacy and strengthen the presence of reliable healthcare information online. The study may therefore contribute to evidence-based strategies for integrating digital health communication with primary healthcare services in Lagos State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Maternal healthcare utilization remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria despite decades of investment in maternal and primary healthcare services. The problem is particularly concerning because many maternal complications can be prevented or effectively managed when women receive timely antenatal care, skilled assistance during childbirth, appropriate referrals and adequate postnatal care. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicates that although a substantial proportion of Nigerian women receive antenatal care from skilled providers, important gaps remain in early antenatal registration, adequate attendance and the use of skilled delivery services (NPC & ICF, 2019).

The problem is not merely whether maternal healthcare services exist, but whether women recognize the need for those services and seek them at the appropriate time. Delays in seeking healthcare can increase the likelihood that manageable complications will become severe before professional treatment is obtained. In Nigeria, evidence from the review of obstetric care has associated inadequate prenatal care and delays in seeking care with adverse maternal outcomes (Hirose et al., 2017). Consequently, improving healthcare-seeking behaviour remains an essential component of maternal mortality and morbidity reduction.

Information plays an important role in healthcare decision-making. A woman who understands the importance of early antenatal registration, recognizes pregnancy danger signs and knows where appropriate services are available may be more likely to seek professional care. Conversely, inadequate knowledge, misinformation or misconceptions may contribute to delayed or inappropriate care-seeking. The rapid growth of digital technologies has created new opportunities for addressing information gaps, but it has also introduced new challenges.

The increasing use of smartphones, social media and Internet platforms means that women can obtain maternal-health information without necessarily interacting with a healthcare professional. While this accessibility may improve knowledge and empowerment, it can also expose women to inaccurate, incomplete or contradictory information. Pregnant women may therefore face difficulties distinguishing evidence-based information from personal opinions, commercial advertisements and misinformation. Gleeson et al. (2022) identified the importance of understanding how pregnant women search for and interpret online health information because Internet-based information can influence decision-making while varying substantially in reliability.

Another dimension of the problem is the possible displacement of professional healthcare advice by informal digital sources. Women may consult social-media groups, influencers, online communities, friends and family before contacting health professionals. In some cases, such platforms may provide useful emotional support and practical information. In other cases, they may encourage self-treatment, use of unverified herbal remedies or delayed consultation with qualified healthcare providers. The danger is that a woman may perceive herself as sufficiently informed after reading online material and consequently underestimate the importance of clinical assessment.

There is also a digital-literacy problem. Access to a smartphone or Internet connection does not necessarily mean that a woman possesses the skills required to identify credible health information. Women may have difficulty interpreting medical terminology, evaluating sources, recognizing sponsored content or determining when online information is not a substitute for clinical assessment. The WHO’s evidence on digital health and women’s health emphasizes that digital technologies can improve access and empowerment but that digital health literacy remains important for ensuring meaningful benefits.

Socioeconomic inequalities may further influence access to digital health information. The cost of smartphones, Internet data and electricity, together with differences in educational attainment and digital skills, can determine the extent to which women can use digital platforms for health purposes. Consequently, digital health interventions may unintentionally benefit women who are already more educated, economically empowered and digitally connected while leaving disadvantaged women behind. This raises questions about whether digital health information can produce equitable improvements in maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour.

The Nigerian context also presents sociocultural challenges. Maternal healthcare decisions may be influenced by spouses, relatives, religious beliefs, cultural expectations and previous experiences with healthcare providers. A woman may have accurate digital information but still be unable to act upon it if she lacks financial resources, transportation or decision-making autonomy. Recent Nigerian evidence indicates that gender relations, sociocultural beliefs and household decision-making can influence the adoption and behavioural effects of digital maternal-health technologies (Ehiemere et al., 2026).

At the health-system level, the relationship between digital information and healthcare utilization may also depend on the quality and responsiveness of primary healthcare services. If women receive digital information encouraging them to attend antenatal care but encounter long waiting times, inadequate staffing, poor provider attitudes, unavailable medicines or other service barriers, the expected positive effect of information may be weakened. Thus, digital health information should not be viewed independently from the broader healthcare environment.

Although international evidence increasingly demonstrates the potential of digital health interventions to improve maternal healthcare engagement, there is still insufficient local evidence regarding how exposure to digital health information affects maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women attending primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area. Existing literature has examined Internet use, mHealth interventions, telemedicine and digital maternal health from different perspectives, but the findings cannot automatically be generalized to women in Ikorodu because technology use, health-system experiences, socioeconomic circumstances and local social environments vary across settings.

Furthermore, many existing studies focus on pregnant women alone, whereas women of reproductive age constitute a broader population whose reproductive-health decisions extend beyond pregnancy to preconception care, family planning, fertility, pregnancy prevention, antenatal care and postnatal services. Studying women of reproductive age who interact with primary healthcare centres can therefore provide a broader understanding of how digital health information influences maternal healthcare-related decision-making.

There is consequently a need to establish whether women who access maternal-health information through digital platforms are more likely to demonstrate appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviours. It is also necessary to determine the major digital sources through which women obtain information, assess the perceived credibility and usefulness of such information, and establish whether exposure to digital health information is significantly associated with maternal healthcare utilization.

The absence of such context-specific evidence creates a practical problem for healthcare planners and primary healthcare managers. Without empirical evidence, investments in digital maternal-health communication may not be sufficiently targeted, and healthcare providers may have limited understanding of how women use digital information when making maternal-health decisions. Conversely, evidence showing a meaningful relationship could support the development of stronger digital health education programmes, credible online information channels, mobile reminders and provider-led digital communication.

This study therefore addresses the problem by investigating the influence of digital health information on maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age in selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State. The study seeks to determine whether digital health information constitutes an important factor in women’s decisions to utilize maternal healthcare services and whether the growing digital environment can be strategically harnessed to improve maternal health service utilization.

1.3 Aim of the Study

The main aim of this study is to examine the influence of digital health information on maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age attending selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The specific objectives are to:

1. determine the extent to which women of reproductive age access digital health information on maternal healthcare in selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area;
2. identify the major digital sources and platforms through which women of reproductive age obtain maternal healthcare information;
3. assess the level of maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age attending selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area;
4. examine the influence of digital health information on early initiation and regular utilization of antenatal healthcare services;
5. determine the influence of digital health information on women’s decisions to seek skilled maternal healthcare services; and
6. examine whether there is a significant relationship between access to digital health information and maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age.

1.5 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. To what extent do women of reproductive age access digital health information on maternal healthcare in selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area?
2. What are the major digital sources and platforms through which women of reproductive age obtain maternal healthcare information?
3. What is the level of maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age attending selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area?
4. To what extent does digital health information influence early initiation and regular utilization of antenatal healthcare services?
5. How does digital health information influence women’s decisions to seek skilled maternal healthcare services?
6. Is there a significant relationship between access to digital health information and maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between access to digital health information and maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age attending selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State.

1.7 Significance of the Study

This study will be significant to women of reproductive age because it will provide evidence on the usefulness of digital health information in making maternal healthcare decisions. By identifying the types and sources of information women commonly access, the study may help women recognize the importance of obtaining accurate health information from credible sources and seeking professional healthcare when necessary.

The study will also be useful to healthcare workers, particularly nurses, midwives, community health officers and other primary healthcare professionals. Findings may help providers understand the information women obtain through digital platforms before, during and after healthcare visits. Such knowledge can enable healthcare workers to address misinformation, recommend credible online resources and integrate digital communication into maternal-health education.

Primary healthcare-centre managers may benefit from the study because it will provide information on the potential role of digital platforms in improving attendance and utilization of maternal health services. If digital reminders, online health education and mobile communication are associated with better healthcare-seeking behaviour, primary healthcare centres may consider incorporating these approaches into routine maternal-health promotion.

The study will also be relevant to public health policymakers and programme planners in Lagos State. Evidence from the study may support the design of context-specific digital maternal-health interventions that complement existing primary healthcare programmes. Rather than treating digital health as a separate intervention, policymakers may integrate digital communication with antenatal care, health education, family planning and postnatal services.

Government agencies responsible for digital health and maternal health may also benefit from the findings. The study can contribute to discussions on digital health literacy, quality assurance of online health information, women’s empowerment and equitable access to digital healthcare resources. This is consistent with the WHO’s emphasis on using digital technologies to improve women’s access to healthcare and strengthen maternal health.

Non-governmental organizations and development partners working in maternal and reproductive health may use the findings to improve digital health education programmes. Evidence about the digital platforms preferred by women can help organizations design more appropriate communication strategies and disseminate accurate information through channels that women already use.

The study will also contribute to academic knowledge by expanding the literature on digital health information and maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour in Nigeria. It will provide context-specific evidence from primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area, an area where the interaction between urbanization, digital technology and primary healthcare utilization provides an important setting for research.

Finally, the study may serve as a reference for future researchers investigating digital health, maternal health, health information-seeking behaviour, reproductive health and primary healthcare utilization. It may also provide a basis for subsequent comparative studies across different local government areas of Lagos State and other parts of Nigeria.

1.8 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the influence of digital health information on maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour among women of reproductive age in selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State.

The study will focus specifically on women of reproductive age who access the selected primary healthcare centres and have experience or potential need for maternal and reproductive healthcare services. Digital health information will be examined in relation to access to information through mobile phones, SMS, social media platforms, websites, online health communities, mobile health applications and other relevant digital channels.

The study will examine maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour in relation to antenatal care, skilled maternal healthcare, response to pregnancy-related health information, healthcare decision-making and postnatal care. It will not attempt to evaluate the clinical quality of maternal healthcare provided by the selected facilities. Similarly, the study will not technically assess the software architecture or cybersecurity of digital health platforms.

Geographically, the study is limited to selected primary healthcare centres in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. The findings will therefore be interpreted within the context of the selected facilities and respondents and should not automatically be generalized to all women of reproductive age in Lagos State or Nigeria without considering differences in population, healthcare infrastructure and digital access.

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

Digital Health Information: Health-related information concerning pregnancy, childbirth, antenatal care, reproductive health, maternal danger signs, delivery, postnatal care and related healthcare services that is accessed through digital technologies such as smartphones, websites, social media, SMS, mobile applications and online platforms.

Digital Health: The use of digital technologies and information systems to support health promotion, disease prevention, healthcare delivery, health communication, health information management and health-related decision-making.

Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour: The actions and decisions undertaken by an individual in response to perceived health needs, including recognizing symptoms, deciding whether to seek professional care, selecting a healthcare provider and utilizing available health services.

Maternal Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour: The decisions and actions of women concerning the utilization of pregnancy-related healthcare services, including antenatal care, skilled delivery, emergency maternal care, referrals and postnatal services.

Women of Reproductive Age: Women within the reproductive age range of 15–49 years, consistent with the conventional demographic and public-health definition used in population and maternal-health research.

Primary Healthcare Centre: A healthcare facility providing first-contact, basic and essential healthcare services to individuals and communities, including maternal, newborn, reproductive and child-health services.

Antenatal Care: Healthcare and monitoring provided to a woman during pregnancy to promote maternal and fetal health, identify potential complications and prepare the woman for childbirth and the postnatal period.

Skilled Maternal Healthcare: Maternal healthcare provided by appropriately trained and qualified healthcare professionals, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.

Digital Health Literacy: The ability of an individual to locate, understand, evaluate and appropriately use health information obtained through digital technologies.

Health Information-Seeking Behaviour: The process through which individuals identify a health-information need, search for relevant information, evaluate available information and use it to make health-related decisions.

Maternal Healthcare Utilization: The actual use of available maternal health services, including antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, referral services and postnatal care.

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study will be organized into five chapters. Chapter One presents the introduction, including the background to the study, statement of the problem, aim and objectives, research questions, research hypothesis, significance, scope and operational definition of terms. Chapter Two will review relevant literature on digital health information, health information-seeking behaviour, maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour, primary healthcare utilization and related empirical studies. It will also present the theoretical framework guiding the study.

Chapter Three will describe the methodology adopted for the study. It will cover the research design, study area, population of the study, sample size and sampling procedure, instrument for data collection, validity and reliability of the instrument, method of data collection and methods of data analysis.

Chapter Four will present and analyse the data collected from respondents. The findings will be presented using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics, with the hypothesis tested at the 0.05 level of significance.

Chapter Five will present the discussion of findings, summary, conclusion and recommendations. It will also identify the contribution of the study and suggest areas for further research.

Project – Influence of Digital Health Information on Maternal Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour among Women of Reproductive Age