The Impact of Information Technology on Health Information Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: the divide within the divide

Abstract

In the beginning of the 21st century, there continues to be a health information access gap between users in industrialized and developing countries. Information Technology (IT) was viewed as a potential tool to bridge this ‘digital divide’. With reliable and cost effective access to the Internet, a significant body of health-related information would be accessible to users in developing and transitional countries. Currently, most of the information is produced in industrialized countries. Within sub-Saharan Africa, access to this information is limited. In 2002, the computer to user's ratio was 1:250-400 compared to a 1:15 world average and a 1:2 industrialized country average. Although there are examples of excellent projects, progress has been patchy, with the sub-Saharan Africa region falling behind due to the lack of physical access to information and training. Without the creation of a major organization with ample funding, pockets of progress will continue to be made, but the full potential of IT will not be reached.