Health Communication Inequalities in the Digital Age: A Study of Marginalized Communities

Abstract

The high rate of digitalization of healthcare communication has fundamentally changed the nature in which health information is generated, shared, and utilized in society. Though online platforms could offer more opportunities, effectiveness, and active interactive communication, they also lead to the possibility of reproducing traditional social and communication disparities. The digital era of health communication disparities critically analyzes this paper by giving special focus to the marginalized communities in the Global South, especially India. The study applies the theory of communication inequality, digital divide models, and health humanities viewpoints to have a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods approach, which utilizes systematic literature reviews, secondary data analysis of global and national health reports, and a critical approach to the digital health communication practices. The results indicate that digital health communication tends to replicate structural injustices based on socioeconomic status, education, language, gender, geography, and digital literacy. The article posits that digital health initiatives will increase health disparities instead of decreasing them unless designed with intentional equity and mediated through the community. The paper ends on the importance of redefining digital health communication into a human rights and social justice problem, which should be supported with an inclusive, culturally sensitive, and participatory model of communication.