ASSESSMENT ON PERCEPTION OF TELEMEDICINE FOR PRENATAL MONITORING AT YOBE STATE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL DAMATURU, YOBE STATE

Telemedicine has become an important innovation in maternal healthcare, offering improved access, quality, and timeliness of prenatal monitoring, particularly in resource-limited settings. Its adoption, however, depends on healthcare providers’ perceptions, institutional readiness, and available infrastructure. This study aimed to assess the perception of telemedicine for prenatal care monitoring at Yobe State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu. A descriptive non-experimental design was conducted among 133 purposively selected midwives from Yobe State specialist Hospital, Damaturu, from a target population of 200 using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire addressing demographic characteristics, perceptions, challenges, and strategies for adoption. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to analyze responses, with findings presented in tables and charts. Results showed that more than 74% of respondents viewed telemedicine positively, citing its benefits in improving prenatal care access, enhancing communication with specialists, and enabling early complication detection. However, lack of devices was a major barrier, with over 51%. Key strategies proposed to improve adoption included government provision of devices, reliable internet infrastructure, clear policies, ICT collaboration, technical support staffing, and peer mentoring. The study concludes that while midwives have favorable perceptions of telemedicine, infrastructural and policy gaps limit optimal use. It recommends targeted investments in technology, capacity building, and supportive frameworks to ensure sustainable telemedicine integration in prenatal care.