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Cited by 187Health and Conflict StudiesICT in Developing CommunitiesMobile Health and mHealth Applications

The role of digital health in making progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 in conflict-affected populations

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Asi, Yara M., Williams, Cynthia·2018·International Journal of Medical Informatics
DOI 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.11.003
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Abstract

Purpose The progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) shows that sustained global action can achieve success. Despite the unprecedented achievements in health and education, more than one billion people, many of them in conflict-affected areas, were unable to reap the benefits of the MDG gains. The recently developed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are even more ambitious then their predecessor. SDG 3 prioritizes health and well-being for all ages in specific areas such as maternal mortality, communicable diseases, mental health, and healthcare workforce. However, without a shift in the approach used for conflict-affected areas, the world's most vulnerable people risk being left behind in global development yet again. We must engage in meaningful discussions about employing innovative strategies to address health challenges fragile, low-resource, and often remote settings. In this paper, we will argue that to meet the ambitious health goals of SDG 3, digital health can help to bridge healthcare gaps in conflict-affected areas. Methods First, we describe the health needs of populations in conflict-affected environments, and how they overlap with the SDG 3 targets. Secondly, we discuss how digital health can address the unique needs of conflict-affected areas. Finally, we evaluate the various challenges in deploying digital technologies in fragile environments, and discuss potential policy solutions. Discussion Persons in conflict-affected areas may benefit from the diffusive nature of digital health tools. Innovations using cellular technology or cloud-based solutions overcome physical barriers. Additionally, many of the targets of SDG 3 could see significant progress if efficacious education and outreach efforts were supported, and digital health in the form of mHealth and telehealth offers a relatively low-resource platform for these initiatives. Lastly, lack of data collection, especially in conflict-affected or otherwise fragile states, was one of the primary limitations of the MDGs. Greater investment in data collection efforts, supported by digital health technologies, is necessary if SDG 3 targets are to be measured and progress assessed. Standardized EMR systems as well as context-specific data warehousing efforts will assist in collecting and managing accurate data. Stakeholders such as patients, providers, and NGOs, must be proactive and collaborative in their efforts for continuous progress toward SDG 3. Digital health can assist in these inter-organizational communication efforts. Conclusion The SDGS are complex, ambitious, and comprehensive; even in the most stable environments, achieving full completion towards every goal will be difficult, and in conflict-affected environments, this challenge is much greater. By engaging in a collaborative framework and using the appropriate digital health tools, we can support humanitarian efforts to realize sustained progress in SDG 3 outcomes.

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  • Cloud-based systems have been promoted for their ability to transfer and store data irrespective of the trajectory of the migration journey.

    “Cloud-based systems have been promoted for their ability to transfer and store data irrespective of the trajectory of the migration journey.”

    From Sijilli: a mobile electronic health records system for refugees in low-resource settings (2019) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Abstract says cloud-based solutions can overcome physical barriers and that electronic records and data warehousing can help collect and manage data. It does not say cloud-based systems transfer and store data regardless of the route taken during migration; searches for migration journeys and data transfer found no such passage in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Authors
Asi, Y. M., & Williams, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Central Florida (US)
  • University of North Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Asi, Yara M.
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Medical Informatics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-06
Volume
114
Pages
114-120
ISSN
1386-5056 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.11.003
OpenAlex
W2767837851
Cited by
187
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7
FWCI
12.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • International Journal of Medical Informatics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of North Florida Digital Commons (University of North Florida) (submittedVersion)
  • Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Conflict Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Keywords
digital health, Sustainable Development Goal 3, conflict-affected populations, fragile states, mobile health, telemedicine, maternal mortality, mental health, healthcare workforce, health data collection, electronic health records, data warehousing, humanitarian health, resource-limited settings, health policy, Millennium Development Goals, health equity, inter-organizational collaboration, cellular technology, cloud solutions
MeSH terms
Sustainable Development, Conflict, Psychological, Delivery of Health Care, Goals, Health Resources, Humans, Stress, Psychological, Global Health, Telemedicine

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