Factors associated with the adoption of a digital health service by patent proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Patent proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) are the first point of care for low-income Nigerian households. They are likely to have an important role in a digital care pathway established for low-income Nigerian women and children. Yet, little is known about what drives the adoption of digital platforms by PPMVs.

METHODS

This study explores factors associated with the adoption of a digital service, NaijaCare, created to enable PPMVs to increase the range and quality of products and services they offer. A structured, quantitative, face-to-face survey was conducted among 248 PPMVs in Lagos in February and March 2020. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with the adoption of NaijaCare.

RESULTS

Women comprise the majority (67%) of medicine vendors in Lagos. Most medicine vendors (64%) had gotten health training on the job. About a quarter (27%) of medicine vendors reported seeking business advice on the internet. Medicine vendors who had obtained on-the-job training had a 12.31 times higher odds ratio ( < 0.01) of adopting the digital service. Medicine vendors who sought business advice on the internet had a 6.48 times higher odds ratio ( < 0.001) of adopting NaijaCare.

CONCLUSION

The study findings suggest that PPMVs' use of the digital service was driven by their desire to increase business profits. Digital care pathways targeting low-income households should be aligned with the business interests of informal providers.