IMPACT OF MOBILE HEALTH APPS ON STUDENTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN DIGITAL HEALTH COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS AT HERITAGE POLYTECHNIC, EKET

This study investigated the influence of mobile health apps on students’ participation in digital health communication campaigns at Heritage Polytechnic, Eket, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Uses and Gratifications Theory. A cross sectional survey design was employed, targeting National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) students during the 2024/2025 academic session. The study population was made up of 4,300 male and female students, a sample size of 351 was drawn using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula. A multistage sampling procedure was used, involving stratified sampling to represent various faculties and simple random sampling to select participants. A structured questionnaire, focusing on awareness, usage, and engagement with mobile health apps in digital health campaigns was used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics like weighted mean scores. The findings showed that students were aware of mobile health apps and acknowledged their role in raising health awareness and promoting preventative behaviours. However, challenges such as limited access to smartphones, high subscription costs, and usability barriers affected students’ engagement. While many students agreed that mhealth apps improved their understanding of health issues and encouraged healthier habits, privacy concerns and lack of awareness about reliable apps hindered optimal use. The study concluded that mhealth apps had the potential to enhance students' engagement in digital health campaigns, but accessibility and usability issues needed to be addressed. It recommended making these apps cheaper, easier to use, and widely promoted among students to maximise their impact on health awareness and behaviour.