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Cited by 70Health and Conflict StudiesICT in Developing CommunitiesDisaster Response and Management

The impact of digital technology on health of populations affected by humanitarian crises: Recent innovations and current gaps

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Mesmar, Sandra, Talhouk, Reem, Akik, Chaza, Olivier, Patrick, Elhajj, Imad H., Elbassuoni, Shady, Armoush, Sarah, Kalot, Joumana +3 more·2016·Journal of Public Health Policy
DOI 10.1057/s41271-016-0040-1
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Abstract

Digital technology is increasingly used in humanitarian action and promises to improve the health and social well-being of populations affected by both acute and protracted crises. We set out to (1) review the current landscape of digital technologies used by humanitarian actors and affected populations, (2) examine their impact on health and well-being of affected populations, and (3) consider the opportunities for and challenges faced by users of these technologies. Through a systematic search of academic databases and reports, we identified 50 digital technologies used by humanitarian actors, and/or populations affected by crises. We organized them according to the stage of the humanitarian cycle that they were used in, and the health outcomes or determinants of health they affected. Digital technologies were found to facilitate communication, coordination, and collection and analysis of data, enabling timely responses in humanitarian contexts. A lack of evaluation of these technologies, a paternalistic approach to their development, and issues of privacy and equity constituted major challenges. We highlight the need to create a space for dialogue between technology designers and populations affected by humanitarian crises.

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  • Cloud-based electronic health records are among the top five health technologies integrated in humanitarian crisis preparedness and response during times of conflict.

    “highlight that cloud-based electronic health records (EHR) are among the top five health technologies integrated in humanitarian crisis preparedness and response during times of conflict”

    From Sijilli: a mobile electronic health records system for refugees in low-resource settings (2019) · cites this paper as [4]

    The “Humanitarian crisis preparedness and response” section identifies five technologies linking preparedness and response, includes cloud-based electronic health records, and says the technologies were used mostly in natural disasters and conflicts. It does not rank them as a “top five,” and its example of cloud-based records concerns disaster recovery rather than specifically their use during conflict. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Mesmar, S., Talhouk, R., Akik, C., Olivier, P., Elhajj, I. H., Elbassuoni, S., Armoush, S., Kalot, J., Balaam, M., Germani, A., & Ghattas, H.
Affiliations
  • American University of Beirut (LB)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
Corresponding author
Ghattas, Hala
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Public Health Policy
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-11
Volume
37
Issue
S2
Pages
167-200
ISSN
  • 0197-5897 (ISSN-L)
  • 1745-655X
DOI
10.1057/s41271-016-0040-1
OpenAlex
W2558564766
Cited by
70
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3
FWCI
6.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Public Health Policy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Scholar Commons (University of South Carolina) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity) (cc-by)
Funders
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (1679493)
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 › Emergency Medical Services › Disaster Response and Management
Keywords
digital technologies, humanitarian crisis, humanitarian action, social well-being, data collection and analysis, communication and coordination, privacy, equity, technology design, user participation, protracted crises
MeSH terms
Disaster Planning, Disasters, Humans, Medical Informatics, Refugees, Biomedical Technology, Disaster Victims

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