The use of digital technologies to improve early diagnosis and intervention in women's health in underserved countries thereby reducing healthcare disparities. [Abstract]
Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology
• Volume 23
• 2026
• pp. 10
Aim/Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the effect of digital health technologies on women’s health for early diagnosis and intervention in underserved countries. To understand how these technologies can improve access to healthcare, pro-mote preventive care and personalized health monitoring, reduce healthcare disparities, empower women, and support gender equality by facilitating health education, skill acquisition, social engagement, and affordable healthcare support.
Background
There’s a critical lack of women’s health data from clinical trials, medical records, and research studies, shaping how we understand, treat, and care for the women’s body. In underserved countries, where populations face economic, social, and infrastructural barriers, women often lack access to quality healthcare, increasing their risk of high mortality.
Digital health technologies (DHTs) can enhance healthcare delivery by improving access, promoting preventive care, and supporting health education. However, these technologies are not equitably accessible, with vulnerable groups, including women, older people, and those with low socioeconomic status, often excluded due to limited internet access and digital skills.
Methodology
This study used a qualitative and quantitative analyses research design. Consequently, a scoping review was performed focusing on woman’s health in low- and middle-income countries using digital technologies to ensure inclusive participation, barrier mitigation, and equitable access, promotion of women’s health, empowerment, and gender equality worldwide.
Contribution
This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by evaluating the scientific literature on the association between digital technologies and women’s health promotion, gender equality, and empowerment globally. It shows how focusing on making digital health technologies easier and more affordable for women in underserved communities is important. To improve digital skills so more women can use these technologies confidently. Researchers should ex-amine how cultural and social barriers affect women’s access to digital health services. The significance of protecting women’s data privacy and ensuring safe use of these technologies. In addition, it shows how active involvement of women in the design and evaluation of digital health technologies makes interventions more responsive to their unique health needs and social engagement.
Findings
The findings show that digital technologies significantly improve women’s health outcomes when inclusive participation, equitable access, and barrier mitigation are ensured. Interventions addressing cost, digital literacy, limited connectivity, and restrictive gender norms reduce disparities in access to health information and services. The convergence of inclusive participation and equitable access positions digital health as a powerful tool for enhancing women’s health and advancing gender equality. However, obstacles such as low digital literacy, limited access to devices, cultural and social norm, and policy-related obstacles may limit equitable access and overall effectiveness.
Recommendations for Practitioners
For practitioners, this study recommends actively involving women in the design and evaluation of digital health technologies to ensure responsiveness to their needs. It advises implementing interventions that address barriers like cost, digital literacy gaps, connectivity issues, and restrictive gender norms. Additionally, it emphasizes supporting digital health technologies with policies that ensure affordability, protect data privacy, and promote gender-inclusive design.
Recommendations for Researchers
Future studies should create and test digital health programs that fit the needs of underserved communities and study their long-term effects on women’s health, empowerment, and gender equality.
Impact on Society
The impact on society includes better health outcomes for women around the world, increased empowerment and social engagement, reduced health gaps, and progress in gender equality across different communities. The study shows that digital health technologies can be an effective tool for fair healthcare delivery and overall societal well-being.
Future Research Future research should look at the long-term effects of digital health technologies on women’s health, empowerment, and gender equality.
This study aims to evaluate the effect of digital health technologies on women’s health for early diagnosis and intervention in underserved countries. To understand how these technologies can improve access to healthcare, pro-mote preventive care and personalized health monitoring, reduce healthcare disparities, empower women, and support gender equality by facilitating health education, skill acquisition, social engagement, and affordable healthcare support.
Background
There’s a critical lack of women’s health data from clinical trials, medical records, and research studies, shaping how we understand, treat, and care for the women’s body. In underserved countries, where populations face economic, social, and infrastructural barriers, women often lack access to quality healthcare, increasing their risk of high mortality.
Digital health technologies (DHTs) can enhance healthcare delivery by improving access, promoting preventive care, and supporting health education. However, these technologies are not equitably accessible, with vulnerable groups, including women, older people, and those with low socioeconomic status, often excluded due to limited internet access and digital skills.
Methodology
This study used a qualitative and quantitative analyses research design. Consequently, a scoping review was performed focusing on woman’s health in low- and middle-income countries using digital technologies to ensure inclusive participation, barrier mitigation, and equitable access, promotion of women’s health, empowerment, and gender equality worldwide.
Contribution
This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by evaluating the scientific literature on the association between digital technologies and women’s health promotion, gender equality, and empowerment globally. It shows how focusing on making digital health technologies easier and more affordable for women in underserved communities is important. To improve digital skills so more women can use these technologies confidently. Researchers should ex-amine how cultural and social barriers affect women’s access to digital health services. The significance of protecting women’s data privacy and ensuring safe use of these technologies. In addition, it shows how active involvement of women in the design and evaluation of digital health technologies makes interventions more responsive to their unique health needs and social engagement.
Findings
The findings show that digital technologies significantly improve women’s health outcomes when inclusive participation, equitable access, and barrier mitigation are ensured. Interventions addressing cost, digital literacy, limited connectivity, and restrictive gender norms reduce disparities in access to health information and services. The convergence of inclusive participation and equitable access positions digital health as a powerful tool for enhancing women’s health and advancing gender equality. However, obstacles such as low digital literacy, limited access to devices, cultural and social norm, and policy-related obstacles may limit equitable access and overall effectiveness.
Recommendations for Practitioners
For practitioners, this study recommends actively involving women in the design and evaluation of digital health technologies to ensure responsiveness to their needs. It advises implementing interventions that address barriers like cost, digital literacy gaps, connectivity issues, and restrictive gender norms. Additionally, it emphasizes supporting digital health technologies with policies that ensure affordability, protect data privacy, and promote gender-inclusive design.
Recommendations for Researchers
Future studies should create and test digital health programs that fit the needs of underserved communities and study their long-term effects on women’s health, empowerment, and gender equality.
Impact on Society
The impact on society includes better health outcomes for women around the world, increased empowerment and social engagement, reduced health gaps, and progress in gender equality across different communities. The study shows that digital health technologies can be an effective tool for fair healthcare delivery and overall societal well-being.
Future Research Future research should look at the long-term effects of digital health technologies on women’s health, empowerment, and gender equality.
health disparities, digital health technologies, women’s health, gender equality and underserved countries.
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