Pregnant mother’s intention to use mobile phone-based messaging interventions for improving maternal and newborn health practices in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract Background Mobile phone-based messaging for maternal education has shown promising outcomes in promoting maternal and child healthcare in low- and middle-income countries, where there is poor utilization of healthcare services. However, the success of a mobile phone messaging-based intervention depends on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that determine its utilization before implementation. Objective To assess pregnant mothers’ intention to use a mobile phone-based messaging intervention to improve maternal and newborn health in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. Method This study employed a cross-sectional study design among randomly selected pregnant mothers residing in six primary health care units that were selected from three districts of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were calculated and presented using tables. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of intention. Standardized regression coefficients were used to understand the effect of the independent variables and outcome variable. A 95% confidence interval and a p-value of