Health and education are inextricably linked. As the Covid-19 pandemic swept the globe, we saw waves of misinformation, misunderstanding, and lack of access to factual and helpful information.

While COVID-19 disrupted social and economic aspects of almost everyone’s lives—with women being disproportionately negatively impacted—the pandemic also advanced the field of digital health in many ways. World governments and multi-national organizations, recognizing the acute need to create digital tools for health education, rushed to respond which resulted in a proliferation of digital health services and tools.

This acceleration in digital health innovation included solutions for telemedicine and teleconsultation, remote monitoring, connected devices, digital health platforms, and health apps. Mobile phones and mobile internet, however, continue to be the most accessible global tools for information dissemination and connection.

Are these new digital platforms sustainable? Findings from a 2022 report in the Journal of Medical Internet Research indicate that they are not, most likely due to remaining structural barriers. Until more robust digital health governance frameworks are built, sustainable digital health transformation likely won’t occur.

The digital divide became even more stark during the pandemic, demonstrating this need. The GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2022 notes that only 60% of women in LMICs now use the mobile internet, compared to 71% of men. This slowdown in digital inclusion for women highlights that renewed investment and focus in addressing the digital gender divide is necessary.

But concurrently, we must ensure women’s safety and security as they access vital digital health information and education tools. As digital health becomes more ubiquitous, so too does the quantity of personal health data collected. The collection, use, and transfer of personal health data is fueling a debate over who owns and controls that data, raising questions over an individual’s right to privacy.

Read the full article about health education for women and girls by Kati Collective at Global Washington.