"Introduction: Mobile health has great potential to expand access and improve the quality of rural healthcare.
Objective: Exploring the acceptabil-ity of mobile phones in healthcare interventions among rural popula-tions of Davangere taluk.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 182 mobile phone users, residing in kukkuwada village, Davangere Ta-luk. Data collected by house to house survey using semi-structured, pretested, and pre-validated ques-tionnaire.
Results: The primary use of mobile phones among study subjects was to make or receive phone calls 182(100%). Text messaging was used by only 51(28%) of respond-ents. All the respondents were will-ing to receive health related infor-mation on their mobile phones. Out of 128(70.3%) respondents who pre-ferred advice on vaccinations for their children 106(58.2%) preferred once in a month. 178(97.8%) were willing to make appointment with doctor via phone. Factors such as gender, literacy, employment and presence of chronic diseases affect-ed preferences regarding mode of communication.
Conclusion: Mobile phone as a mean of receiving health infor-mation and supporting healthcare through mobile health interventions is acceptable in rural India."
Key words: Mobile phones, Rural Population, Health care.
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