Abstract:
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or popularly the
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (CO VID-19) pandemic brought significant public health
challenges globally. During the crisis, mobile health (m-health) services were
implemented to expedite fast, convenient and reliable dissemination of health
information to the public. Meanwhile, the adoption of m-health faced high uncertainty
alike other CO VID-19 regulatory methods. This study examines the antecedents of
m-health acceptance among Zimbabwean university students. Whilst research on
m-health adoption during the pandemic is still scarce, this study becomes the first to
integrate the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTA UT) and the
Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict m-health adoption in a developing country.
An explanatory design and a quantitative research approach were employed. Based on
271 valid responses, Structural Equation Modelling was used to estimate the proposed
model. The findings revealed the positive effect of performance expectancy, effort
expectancy, facilitating conditions, attitudes, behavioral norms, perceived behavioral
control on behavioral intention to adopt m-health with a higher R square value (80.4%)
than the original UTA UT model. The study also confirmed the positive influence of
behavioral intention on m-health usage (R square = 41.5%). Health promoters were
urged to design messages that stimulate positive attitudes, appeal to social groupings
and improve user’s self-efficacy. M-health services should also foster use simplicity, ease
of use and health value to entice m-health adoption among consumers. The study also
provides an important baseline for the integration of behavioral theoretical models to
enhance their predictive strength.
