Exploring stigma and mHealth acceptance for prenatal and postpartum depression screening among low income women clients of public health clinics in Champaign County, Illinois

Mohd Hajaraih, Syahidatul Khafizah

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116234 Copy

Description

Title

Exploring stigma and mHealth acceptance for prenatal and postpartum depression screening among low income women clients of public health clinics in Champaign County, Illinois

Author(s)

Mohd Hajaraih, Syahidatul Khafizah

Issue Date

2022-07-15

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Huang, Wen-Hao

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Huang, Wen-Hao

Committee Member(s)

• Kuchinke, Peter K
• Tabb, Karen M
• Oh, Eunjung

Department of Study

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Discipline

Human Resource Education

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• mHealth
• Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)
• migrant maternal health
• postpartum depression
• low-income population
• mental health
• mixed methods

Abstract

Modern technology plays a big part in our healthcare system nowadays. Mobile technology (mHealth), for example, has transformed health service delivery, including for perinatal and postpartum depression (PPD) screening. However, such technologies do not always fully address the needs of target users, such as migrants or foreign-born women. Many mHealth technologies available dismiss the experience of women, which could inform the development of these technologies. This study aimed to explore, migrants’ or foreign-born women’s acceptance of mHealth for PPD screening. The researcher sought to understand this group’s acceptance of mHealth for PPD screening and examine other factors that determine acceptance of this technology among the participants. The researcher also explores these women’s perceptions and experiences on being screened for depression, stigma about PPD, and getting help for mental health issues. This study employs the convergent parallel design mixed methods approach. The modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) guided the formulation of the qualitative and quantitative research instruments. Fifty-five local and foreign-born women from a campus town in Illinois responded to the online survey hosted using SurveyMonkey. An ordinal logistic regression was conducted to analyze the effects of the UTAUT factors and stigma on the acceptance of mHealth among the samples. Concurrently, a focus group discussion and five semi-structured interviews with migrant or foreign-born women were conducted to explore their experiences of using mHealth in screening for postpartum depression. Findings show that migrant women are valuable resources for mHealth developers when developing technology intended to serve them. Although none of the UTAUT and stigma factors from the survey seemed to strongly contribute to the behavioral intention to use mHealth, participants’ optimism, positive attitudes, and trust in mHealth potential to screen for depression surfaced from the interviews and focus group discussions. Their familiarity with mobile devices, especially smartphones, made them comfortable using mHealth for depression screening too. The study also illuminates migrants and foreign-born women’s experiences adjusting to the new culture in the host country with regard to maternal health care. Some other highlights of the findings include the importance of early depression screening for these moms, making mHealth among the options for depression screening tools, the role of healthcare providers, and engaging migrant women in the policy and technology development intended for them. Results of this research extended the understanding of mHealth acceptance for PPD screening among migrant women. It also gives more insights for healthcare providers to develop a culturally competent health support system and address the challenges and barriers that deter migrants and foreign-born mothers from getting necessary mental health care on time. Organizations that provide health and health care services can also explore the use of UTAUT in informing organizational planning and development for mHealth design and deployment. Implications and recommendations for research and practice in giving a voice to migrant mothers to contribute to their flourishing are also discussed.

Graduation Semester

2022-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

© 2022 Syahidatul Khafizah Mohd Hajaraih

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