Leapfrogging Healthcare Service Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Utility-Trust Rationale of Mobile Payment Platforms

Can mobile payment platforms (MPPs) elevate Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) healthcare service quality (HSQ)? In a region home to more than one billion people yet beset by a paucity of services and infrastructure, mobile devices and platforms are rapidly gaining ground. Rising healthcare needs and costs along with the fact that more than 60% of SSA lives in areas nearly 1.5 miles away from paved roads that lead to hospitals and banks, accessibility to traditional financial services remains a serious concern. As Sub-Saharan hospitals increase billing access via mobile payment platforms, there is little understanding of whether and how mobile payment platforms influence healthcare service quality (HSQ). Drawing upon economic utility and trust perspectives, this study develops an integrative model to examine mobile payment platform utility's impact on patient trust, commitment, and HSQ perceptions. The model is empirically tested using a survey of 527 patients from the West African country of Nigeria. Results reveal a distinct amalgam of MPP utility, trust, and commitment as antecedents to HSQ perceptions, thus generating important insights and contributing to the ongoing inquiry of how digital platforms in developing countries can influence socio-economic development. Overall, the results support the study's hypotheses and underscore the important role of MPPs.