This essay is part of a special collection of youth authored essays written by DTH-Lab’s Regional Youth Champions (2023-2024). The full collection of essays can be found here in the partnering document of the global interim report on Building a blueprint for digital first health systems: Findings from global youth consultations.
A digital first health system, by definition, is centred around leveraging digital technologies to enhance the delivery of healthcare services, but sometimes ensuring that these systems are not only effective but also responsive to the diverse health needs of young people can be difficult.
Digital literacy can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges, particularly in equipping young people with the essential knowledge and understanding of how to navigate digital platforms like telehealth services and remote monitoring technologies, how to access and securely manage their health records online, and how to interpret and use health metrics and data and distinguish between evidence-based information and misinformation.
Digital literacy initiatives
Multiple good practices can help enhance digital literacy. These include collaborating with educational institutions to integrate digital health literacy into school curricula and ensuring that the learning process is not only informative but also fun for young people through gamification elements, quizzes, storytelling, arts and interactive activities that ignite interest and comprehension of digital health concepts.
Other good practices include developing and disseminating resources and publications tailored by and for young people, such as online guides and video tutorials, as well as harnessing the power of social media to provide easily shareable content.
When engaging in collaboration with organizations or tech companies that lead the creation of these solutions, it is important to make sure that young people are included in the decision-making process from beginning to end.
For example, mental health apps like BetterHelp have successfully implemented this inclusive approach. By actively involving young users in the design and improvement process, BetterHelp was able to gather valuable feedback from young people with diverse mental health needs ensuring that the app is refined to cater to a broad range of experiences, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness and user satisfaction.
Digital divide and health inequality
One of the biggest challenges related to digital literacy is accessibility and internet connectivity, especially for young people from developing countries. While progress has been made, a significant digital divide still exists, and millions of young people either have limited or no access to the internet.
Addressing this digital disparity is not only a matter of technological inclusion but also a fundamental step toward promoting digital literacy and equity in health outcomes. Parties working on this issue should focus on implementing affordable internet solutions, expanding digital infrastructure and fostering digital literacy as they are essential components of a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing the pervasive impact of this digital divide.
Initiatives like UNICEF and ITU’s Giga, have taken proactive steps to bridge the digital divide, focusing on connecting every school to the internet and every young person to information, opportunity and choice.
In conclusion, as the digital healthcare system continues to evolve, fostering digital literacy among young people becomes increasingly important. Informed individuals are better equipped and more likely to collaborate with healthcare professionals, sharing insights that can significantly impact the course of their treatment.
Imane Lakbachi is a human rights advocate with a background in computer science. She is the Director of Network Engagement at IYAFP, and the Founder of Concealed Narratives; a local youth-led initiative using digital advocacy and storytelling to raise awareness around women and girls issues in Morocco.
Youth Empowerment | SRHR | Digital Advocacy | Human Rights | Sustainable Development
Imane Lakbachi is a human rights advocate with a background in computer science. She is the Director of Network Engagement at IYAFP, and the Founder of Concealed Narratives; a local youth-led initiative using digital advocacy and storytelling to raise awareness around women and girls issues in Morocco. Imane is also a Youth Reference Committee Member at the African Union, one of the Co-chairs of the Digital Experience Sub-Committee at PMNCH, a CEE Fellow at IREX, a Generation Democracy Member at IRI, a Women Deliver Young Leaders Program and Fora’s Global Summit Alumna and a Diana Award Winner 2022. Imane is incredibly passionate about sustainable development and is working with international NGOs, civil society organizations, and foundations on meaningful adolescent and youth engagement.
