Digital Health Divide: Opportunities for Reducing Health Disparities and Promoting Equitable Care for Maternal and Child Health Populations

Abstract

The integration of telehealth into maternal and child health (MCH) care presents an opportunity to enhance health equity, offering solutions to bridge gaps in access and quality of care. This paper explores the impact and reach of telehealth services on MCH, emphasizing its potential to address disparities in healthcare access, particularly for underserved and marginalized populations. Telehealth facilitates improved access to care by reducing geographical barriers, offering convenient and flexible consultation options, and providing cost-effective solutions for low-income families. This paper also crystallizes the importance of telehealth services on the continuity of care through consistent remote monitoring, which is crucial for managing chronic conditions and ensuring timely interventions during pregnancy and early childhood. However, the effective implementation of telehealth in MCH also faces significant challenges, including the digital divide, which limits technology access and digital literacy among vulnerable populations. Enhancing digital literacy is essential for empowering individuals to navigate telehealth services effectively and to make informed health decisions. To advance health equity, it is crucial to address these challenges by expanding technology access, improving digital literacy, and developing supportive policies that ensure comprehensive telehealth coverage while considering the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). This paper explores the importance of leveraging telehealth and other timely interventions to improve MCH equity and justice, including the provision of technological resources and comprehensive policy frameworks. By addressing these factors, telehealth can significantly contribute to reducing health disparities and promoting equitable care for all maternal and child populations.