Impacts of the Internet on Health Inequality and Healthcare Access: A Cross-Country Study

Abstract

Access to information and resources through the Internet has become an increasingly critical aspect of contemporary life. Based on the WHO Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) and cross-country panel data, this paper investigates the effect of Internet access on health inequality across different income groups. The results indicate that access to the Internet significantly improves the average health condition and alleviates health inequality. In addition, employing cross-country data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, this paper further examines the social and economic determinants of access to healthcare. Specifically, it is found that Internet access significantly facilitates healthcare access and mitigates the negative impact of income inequality on healthcare access. Considered together, these findings shed light on the importance of the Internet in reducing health inequality and improving healthcare access.

Understanding social needs screening and demographic data collection in primary care practices serving Maryland Medicare patients

“…Financial strain among individuals often poses a challenge as financial needs fluctuate frequently, and changes can be dramatic; further, these changing needs over time are often not resolved by a one-time intervention and require long-term involvements [ 11 ]. Though research on the effects of internet access and health outcomes is still emerging, literature suggests investment in digital infrastructure by federal, state, and local governments is needed for further development of the internet as a means of addressing long-standing inequality in health [ 25 , 26 ]. While food insecurity and transportation were top needs prioritized within MDPCP practices, they did not present the same level of challenge to practices, perhaps due to wider availability of resources, partnerships, and supports such as transportation vouchers.…”

“…Increased collection of detailed demographic data, particularly regarding sexual orientation, education level, and disability status presents an opportunity for improvement in primary care. Furthermore, collecting detailed demographic information can better allow practices to understand the need for targeted educational materials, track quality indicators, and address challenges faced by historically marginalized populations [ 26 , 27 ]. Still, even with good data collection approaches, some practices do not have the infrastructure or resources to analyze data to assess disparities in care or outcomes.…”

Role of Community Infrastructure in Improving Nutrition in Under-Five Children for Better Implementation of Integrated Child Development Services

“…Our results match the earlier studies where the prevalence of underweight was more seen in an urban slum than in a rural area. [32,33] It was observed in these studies that the low income of the family had resulted in underweight children from an urban slum.…”

Perspectives of Digital Health Innovations in Low- and Middle-Income Health Care Systems From South and Southeast Asia (Preprint)

“…4 Digital literacy and usage can impact one's ability and attitude toward using digital technology [4,5]. The scarcity of technological resources also hampers the introduction, adoption, and integration of digital health interventions into the broader health systems and compounds existing inequities in access to healthcare, potentially exacerbating disparities in health outcomes [6,7].…”