INFLUENCE OF TELEMEDICINE ADOPTION, AI INTEGRATION AND POWER SUPPLY RELIABILITY ON HEALTHCARE SERVICE DELIVERY IN RURAL NIGERIA

Abstract

Healthcare service delivery in rural Nigeria remains constrained by limited access to technology and unreliable infrastructure. This study examines the influence of telemedicine adoption, AI integration, and power supply reliability on healthcare service delivery in rural Nigeria. The study adopts a quantitative ex post facto research design using secondary data covering the period 2015 to 2025, with a sample size of 379 healthcare facilities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, diagnostic tests, and panel regression techniques. The findings reveal that telemedicine adoption, AI integration, and power supply reliability all have positive and statistically significant effects on healthcare service delivery, with power supply reliability exerting the strongest influence, followed by telemedicine adoption and AI integration. The results indicate that improvements in digital health technologies and infrastructure significantly enhance healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality in rural areas. The study concludes that an integrated approach combining technology adoption and infrastructural development is essential for improving healthcare outcomes in Nigeria. It is recommended that policymakers invest in telemedicine expansion, promote AI driven healthcare solutions, and ensure stable electricity supply in rural health facilities.