TY - JOUR
T1 - Digital tools for youth health promotion
T2 - principles, policies and practices in sub-Saharan Africa
AU - Ferretti, Agata
AU - Adjei, Kwame K.
AU - Ali, Joseph
AU - Atuire, Caesar
AU - Ayuk, Betrand Tambe
AU - Banougnin, Boladé Hamed
AU - Cengiz, Nezerith
AU - Gichoya, Judy
AU - Jjingo, Daudi
AU - Juma, Damian Omari
AU - Kotze, Wiaan
AU - Krubiner, Carleigh
AU - Littler, Katherine
AU - McCradden, Melissa D.
AU - Moodley, Keymanthri
AU - Naidoo, Meshandren
AU - Nair, Gonasagrie
AU - Obeng-Kyereh, Kingsley
AU - Oliver, Kedebone
AU - Ralefala, Dimpho
AU - Toska, Elona
AU - Wekesah, Frederick M.
AU - Wright, Jonty
AU - Vayena, Effy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/4/1
Y1 - 2024/4/1
N2 - Although digital health promotion (DHP) technologies for young people are increasingly available in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there has been insufficient research investigating whether existing ethical and policy frameworks are adequate to address the challenges and promote the technological opportunities in these settings. In an effort to fill this gap and as part of a larger research project, in November 2022, we conducted a workshop in Cape Town, South Africa, entitled ‘Unlocking the Potential of Digital Health Promotion for Young People in Low- and Middle-Income Countries’. The workshop brought together 25 experts from the areas of digital health ethics, youth health and engagement, health policy and promotion and technology development, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), to explore their views on the ethics and governance and potential policy pathways of DHP for young people in LMICs. Using the World Café method, participants contributed their views on (i) the advantages and barriers associated with DHP for youth in LMICs, (ii) the availability and relevance of ethical and regulatory frameworks for DHP and (iii) the translation of ethical principles into policies and implementation practices required by these policies, within the context of SSA. Our thematic analysis of the ensuing discussion revealed a willingness to foster such technologies if they prove safe, do not exacerbate inequalities, put youth at the center and are subject to appropriate oversight. In addition, our work has led to the potential translation of fundamental ethical principles into the form of a policy roadmap for ethically aligned DHP for youth in SSA.
AB - Although digital health promotion (DHP) technologies for young people are increasingly available in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there has been insufficient research investigating whether existing ethical and policy frameworks are adequate to address the challenges and promote the technological opportunities in these settings. In an effort to fill this gap and as part of a larger research project, in November 2022, we conducted a workshop in Cape Town, South Africa, entitled ‘Unlocking the Potential of Digital Health Promotion for Young People in Low- and Middle-Income Countries’. The workshop brought together 25 experts from the areas of digital health ethics, youth health and engagement, health policy and promotion and technology development, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), to explore their views on the ethics and governance and potential policy pathways of DHP for young people in LMICs. Using the World Café method, participants contributed their views on (i) the advantages and barriers associated with DHP for youth in LMICs, (ii) the availability and relevance of ethical and regulatory frameworks for DHP and (iii) the translation of ethical principles into policies and implementation practices required by these policies, within the context of SSA. Our thematic analysis of the ensuing discussion revealed a willingness to foster such technologies if they prove safe, do not exacerbate inequalities, put youth at the center and are subject to appropriate oversight. In addition, our work has led to the potential translation of fundamental ethical principles into the form of a policy roadmap for ethically aligned DHP for youth in SSA.
KW - LMICs
KW - adolescents health
KW - digital health
KW - ethics
KW - policy roadmap
KW - sub-Saharan Africa
KW - young people
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85189372594&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/heapro/daae030
DO - 10.1093/heapro/daae030
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85189372594
SN - 0957-4824
VL - 39
JO - Health Promotion International
JF - Health Promotion International
IS - 2
M1 - daae030
ER -