Abstract:
Purpose: The study sought to investigate factors that affect the adoption and use of open
access in Tanzanian health sciences universities.
Design/methodology/approach: Based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey, 415
faculty members were selected through a stratified random sampling from a population of
679 in all eight health sciences universities in Tanzania. The response rate was 71.1%.
Findings: Based on the social exchange theory (SET), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance
and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study developed a model suitable for assessing open
access adoption and usage in academic institutions. The study found that facilitating
conditions, extrinsic benefits (professional recognition), behavioural intention and individual
characteristics (professional rank, technical skills and number of publications) predicted
actual usage of open access. Other factors related to contextual factors (attitude, and open
access culture), and extrinsic benefits (academic reward, accessibility and preservation)
determined behavioural intention to use open access. Fear to violate publisher’s copyright
policies and effort expectancy however de-motivated faculty to adopt open access, while
copyright concerns inhibited faculty’s actual usage of open access.
Originality/value: This is a first comprehensive study focusing on the health sciences
faculty’s open access adoption and usage behaviour in Africa, and Tanzania in particular, and
reveals findings that are useful for planning and implementing open access initiatives in other
institutions with similar conditions.
