Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV (VNP+), Hanoi, Viet Nam.
BMJ Glob Health. 2023 May;8(5). doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011254.
Digital health offers the potential to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. However, experts have warned about threats to human rights.
We used qualitative methods to investigate how young adults in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam use their mobile phones to access online health information and peer support, and what they see as the effect on their human rights. We applied a transnational participatory action research approach. Global and national networks of people living with HIV, AIDS activists, young adults and human rights lawyers participated in study design, desk review, digital ethnography, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and qualitative analysis.
We interviewed 174 young adults ages 18-30 in 24 focus groups in 7 cities in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam, and held 36 key informant interviews with national and international stakeholders. Young adults reported predominantly using Google, social media and social chat groups for health information. They emphasised reliance on trusted peer networks, and the role of social media health champions. However, gender inequalities, class, education and geography create barriers to online access. Young adults also disclosed harms linked to seeking health information online. Some described anxiety about phone dependence and risk of surveillance. They called for a greater voice in digital governance.
National health officials should invest in young adults' digital empowerment, and engage them in policy to address benefits and risks of digital health. Governments should cooperate to demand regulation of social media and web platforms to uphold the right to health.
数字健康有望加强中低收入国家的卫生系统。然而，专家警告称，这可能会对人权构成威胁。
我们采用定性方法，调查加纳、肯尼亚和越南的年轻人如何使用手机获取在线健康信息和同伴支持，以及他们认为这对其人权有何影响。我们采用了跨国参与式行动研究方法。全球和国家艾滋病毒感染者网络、艾滋病活动家、年轻人和人权律师参与了研究设计、桌面审查、数字民族志、焦点小组讨论、关键知情人访谈和定性分析。
我们在加纳、肯尼亚和越南的 7 个城市的 24 个焦点小组中采访了 174 名年龄在 18-30 岁之间的年轻人，并与来自国家和国际的利益攸关方进行了 36 次关键知情人访谈。年轻人主要使用谷歌、社交媒体和社交聊天群获取健康信息。他们强调依赖可信赖的同伴网络，以及社交媒体健康拥护者的作用。然而，性别不平等、阶级、教育和地理位置等因素阻碍了他们的在线访问。年轻人还披露了与在线寻求健康信息相关的伤害。一些人描述了对手机依赖和被监视风险的焦虑。他们呼吁在数字治理中拥有更大的话语权。
国家卫生官员应该投资于年轻人的数字赋权，并让他们参与政策制定，以应对数字健康的益处和风险。政府应合作要求社交媒体和网络平台进行监管，以维护健康权。
