Report on Technology’s Role in Mitigating Healthcare Disparities and Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Study on Health Equity for African Americans

A report based on research from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Center for Black Studies Research (CBSR) indicates that enhanced access to technology is a critical strategy for achieving healthcare equity for African Americans. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health by researchers Ebenezer Larnyo and Sharon Tettegah, posits that leveraging health technology can significantly advance key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by improving access to care, enhancing its quality, and reducing systemic inequities.

Core Findings: The Intersection of Technology, Socioeconomics, and Health

The Link Between Technology Access and Healthcare Disparities

The research establishes a direct correlation between access to technology and the reduction of healthcare disparities. It was found that greater access to foundational technologies like broadband internet and smartphones, coupled with the use of telehealth and health-related social media, significantly diminishes healthcare gaps among African Americans. This directly supports the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Socioeconomic Status and Systemic Barriers

Socioeconomic status was identified as a major determinant of technology access and, consequently, health outcomes. The report highlights that historical patterns of exclusion and systemic racism contribute to these disparities. Higher socioeconomic status is linked to better technology access and fewer healthcare disparities, underscoring that achieving equity requires addressing both digital and structural barriers. The experience of tennis champion Venus Williams, whose health concerns were initially dismissed by medical professionals, was cited as an example of systemic issues that disproportionately affect African Americans.

Statistical Analysis of Interrelated Factors

The study analyzed survey data from 815 African Americans, revealing statistically significant relationships between key variables. These findings provide quantitative evidence for policy interventions aligned with the SDGs.

• A positive association exists between socioeconomic status and technology access.
• A positive association was found between technology access and the use of health technology.
• A negative association was confirmed between technology access and healthcare disparities, meaning greater access leads to fewer disparities.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The findings directly inform strategies to achieve SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. By demonstrating how technology can bridge gaps in healthcare access and quality, the research provides a clear pathway to improve health outcomes and move towards universal health coverage for marginalized communities.

Addressing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

This report centrally addresses SDG 10 by focusing on the reduction of inequalities within and among countries. The research quantifies how digital and socioeconomic divides perpetuate health inequities based on race and economic status. Addressing these issues through targeted technology initiatives is crucial for creating more just and equitable societies.

Fulfilling SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The study underscores the importance of SDG 9, which calls for building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation. The recommendations for affordable broadband and smartphones align with target 9.c, which aims to provide universal and affordable access to the internet. Such infrastructure is presented not merely as a convenience but as a foundational element for achieving equitable public health.

Recommendations for Action

Policy and Infrastructure Imperatives

Based on the evidence, the report outlines several actionable solutions that are critical for progress. These recommendations provide a framework for policymakers aiming to leverage technology for social good.

1. Ensure broadband internet is affordable, accessible, and reliable for all communities.
2. Promote access to affordable smartphones as essential tools for health management.
3. Develop and deploy culturally tailored telehealth services that meet the specific needs of diverse populations.
4. Support the creation of simple-to-use mental health applications and trusted, health-related social media platforms.

The Need for Advocacy and Awareness

The report concludes by emphasizing the ongoing need for advocacy and awareness campaigns. It is essential to build a narrative that highlights the distinct health needs of minority populations, ensuring that medical communities and health systems become more responsive and inclusive. This aligns with the overarching SDG principle of “leaving no one behind” and is vital for creating structural changes rather than relying on individual solutions.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The entire article is centered on healthcare, specifically the challenges African Americans face in accessing quality care and the resulting negative health outcomes. It discusses strategies like telehealth to improve health services.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article’s core theme is the healthcare disparity and inequity faced by African Americans compared to their white counterparts. It explicitly links these inequities to systemic racism, historical exclusion, and socioeconomic status, advocating for solutions to reduce these gaps.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article identifies access to technology and digital infrastructure as a critical solution. It highlights the importance of broadband internet, smartphones, and health technology platforms in bridging the healthcare gap, thus connecting to the goal of developing reliable infrastructure and fostering innovation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services… The article directly addresses this target by discussing the “inordinate amount of difficulty in accessing healthcare” for African Americans. It points to socioeconomic status as a major barrier (“Healthcare in the US takes money”) and highlights how technology like telehealth can “enhanc[e] access to care” and improve its quality. The story of Venus Williams being “dismissed” by doctors underscores the challenge in accessing “quality” care.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity… or economic or other status. The article focuses on the healthcare exclusion of a specific racial group (African Americans) and demonstrates how socioeconomic status dictates access to both technology and healthcare. The research aims to find ways to reduce these disparities and promote inclusion.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome… The article explicitly mentions that African Americans “tend to have worse healthcare outcomes than white counterparts.” It attributes this inequality of outcome to “systemic racism and historical patterns of exclusion,” directly aligning with the goal of reducing such inequalities.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet… The article identifies technology access as a key solution. It states that “broadband internet is foundational; it needs to be affordable, accessible and reliable,” which directly corresponds to this target. The need for “affordable smartphones” is also mentioned as crucial for leveraging health technologies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

   • Healthcare Disparities: The article repeatedly refers to “healthcare disparities” as a key metric. The study itself found a negative association: “the less access to health technology, the larger the healthcare disparities.” Measuring the gap in health outcomes between different racial groups would be a direct indicator.
   • Use of Health Technology: The article suggests that the “use [of] telehealth and health-related social media platforms” is an indicator of improved access to care. The study found a positive association between technology access and health technology use.

2. Indicators for SDG 10 Targets

   • Correlation between Socioeconomic Status and Access: The study found a “statistically significant relationship between socioeconomic status and technology access.” Tracking this correlation over time would indicate whether opportunities are becoming more equal regardless of economic status.
   • Disparities in Health Outcomes by Race: The article mentions that African Americans “tend to have worse healthcare outcomes.” An indicator would be the statistical difference in outcomes for specific conditions (like uterine fibroids, as in the Venus Williams example) between racial groups.

3. Indicators for SDG 9 Targets

   • Access to Broadband Internet: The article explicitly states that “broadband internet is foundational.” The rate of affordable and reliable broadband access among the target population is a direct indicator.
   • Smartphone Ownership: The call for “affordable smartphones” implies that the rate of smartphone ownership is a key indicator for accessing mobile health technologies.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news-medical.net