Digital Health Innovations: Transforming Healthcare Access in sub-Saharan Africa

Ayobami Precious Adekola

doi:10.25159/2520-9515/18989

Authors

Ayobami Precious Adekola University of South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5073-9012

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-9515/18989

Keywords:

digital health innovations, healthcare access, health equity, sub-Saharan Africa, Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3)

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces persistent challenges in access to health care due to resource shortages, weak infrastructure, and geographical barriers, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Digital health innovations offer promising solutions to these inequities. The purpose of this study is to examine how digital technologies can be leveraged to advance Sustainable Development Goal 3, ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all by improving healthcare access and equity in SSA. Using the social determinants of health (SDH) framework, this study conducted an integrative literature review using the PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and relevant literature published between 2013 and 2024 were identified in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Africa Journals Online, Google Scholar, and the Directory of Open Access Journals. Of the initial 985 records from database searches and 93 from other sources, 245 sources were left after removing duplicates. Further screening yielded 75 full-text articles, of which 62 were excluded for various reasons, leaving 13 studies for qualitative synthesis. Findings reveal that digital health can enhance healthcare delivery in underserved areas by enabling remote care and improving system efficiency, but its adoption relies on policy support, infrastructure, and community engagement. Barriers include low digital literacy, regulatory weaknesses, infrastructure gaps, and data privacy concerns. Sustainability demands integration into national strategies, stronger health information systems, and sustainable financing, alongside ethical and legal frameworks on equity and data governance. While digital health holds transformative potential in SSA, decisive policy action is essential to realise equitable and just healthcare access.

Author Biography

Ayobami Precious Adekola, University of South Africa

College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa.

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