Gender differences in health technology use?
Shoshana Bloom
Strategy Consultant - Digital Health - MSc Global Public Health - NED - Mentor
A large part of LinkedIn's feed this past week covered issues sparked by #internationalwomansday. So this week’s newsletter will follow this theme and examine whether there are differences in health technology use between the genders and explore potential reasons for these differences.
Are there differences in health technology use between men and women? The short answer is yes, there are differences; women are more likely to use digital health technologies, particularly when it comes to using technology for health-related information seeking, health tracking, and communication with healthcare providers. Men are on the other hand have historically been more likely to use digital health technologies for fitness and exercise tracking; reflecting the gaps in physical activity and sports participation observed between the genders.
The reasons for these observed differences are complex and multifactorial, reflecting underlying gender inequalities, societal norms and differences like class, race, age, which combine to shape both access to and use of technologies by different genders. However, despite the complexity, there are some reasons that have been identified that might go some way in explaining why.
In many parts of the world, despite much progress in gender equality, women are still more likely to be caregivers and more often responsible for managing the health of their families. Women are also more likely to experience chronic health conditions, such as arthritis, migraines, and autoimmune diseases. As digital health technologies can help women to better manage their conditions and the health of their families, perhaps this provides the greater motivation for use. Conversely, when it comes to technology adoption, women are less likely to adopt new technologies than men. Studies have found higher levels of ‘technophobia’ in women than men who?subsequently are later adopters of new technologies.
A significant factor influencing men’s use of health technologies is stigma, which results in some men feeling uncomfortable using digital health technologies, perceiving them as 'feminine' or weak. Research has highlighted that is influence is more apparent in some cultures than others. One study highlighted the effect of ‘machismo’ amongst Latino men,?a set of attitudes and identities associated with masculinity which explained the lower uptake of digital health technologies observed amongst Latino men.
The different factors influence gender use of digital health technologies across the globe, resulting from differences in underlying culture and societal norms that shape both technology access and use as well as access to healthcare services.
Research suggests that women in developing countries face more significant barriers to accessing digital health technologies than men. These barriers include a lack of access to technology and the internet, low literacy rates, and cultural norms that restrict women's access to technology and healthcare services. Many women in developing countries face stigma and discrimination.
Studies of health technology use in developing countries found that health technology use was influenced by differing gender hierarchies, women's reduced autonomy and dependence on men for technical and financial support. For example, in some cultures, women need permission from a male family member to access healthcare services, which can limit their ability to both access healthcare as well as limiting their use of digital health technologies.
Women in developing countries face significant barriers to accessing technology and the internet. In many low-income countries, women are less likely than men to own a mobile phone, which can limit their ability to access digital health services. Globally women remain 7% less likely than men to own a mobile phone, and are 16% less likely to use mobile internet.
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Several studies of health technology use in developing countries found that men had better access and use of digital health technologies due to existing gender disparities in mobile technology access. This resulted in greater health technology use even when the health technology was targeted more to women’s health needs, such as family planning and contraception. While health technologies have the potential to empower women and increase their autonomy, a significant cultural shift is needed to realign control of household resources to enable gender equality in access to healthcare and technology.
Strategies deployed to improve uptake of health technologies amongst women have included gender-targeted health education campaigns and community-based interventions, and the provision of low-cost or free technologies which have successfully improved digital health uptake among women in developing countries.
In conclusion, there are gender differences in digital health use, but these differences depend on where you are in the world. While the reasons for these differences are complex and multifactorial, it is clear that digital health technologies have the potential to improve the health and wellness of both men and women. Healthcare providers and digital health developers should be aware of these gender differences, and work to address the unique challenges faced by women across the world, tailoring interventions accordingly to ensure that both men and women can benefit.
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