THE IMPACT OF HEALTH BELIEFS AND SELF-EFFICACY ON INTENTIONS TO SEEK ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION AMONG WOMEN IN UGANDA

Abstract

The present internet revolution has opened a new avenue in healthcare where individuals now primarily refer to the Internet for health-related information searches. This shift from traditional methods of looking for health information has been prevalent among women. Many studies have uncovered the factors that trigger women's intentions to look for health-related information online. Meanwhile, empirical investigations on factors influencing African women's behavioral intentions to search for health-related information on the Internet are rare. It is imperative to investigate such factors due to social, economic, and technological differences among women populations in advanced and developing nations. Thus the urgency of this study. Therefore, this study examined the influence of health belief factors and self-efficacy on women's intentions to seek health-related information. An online survey questionnaire was employed to collect the required data, and the Smart PLS3.0 was used to execute the structural equation modeling technique to evaluate the hypothesized relationships in the study. The findings indicate that the triggers of intentions for women in Uganda to look for health-related information on the Internet include internet navigation skills and concern over their general well-being (health consciousness). It is interesting to note, however, the perceived susceptibility and severity to chronic illnesses did not affect the intentions of women to look for online health-related information. This study is the first of its nature in the Sub-Saharan region. Although online health information research is still in its infancy in Uganda, it provides imperative inputs for policymakers to offer befitting interventions on health information-seeking skills and knowledge in the community.