Inclusive digital transformation: the scenario of digital service usage by women in Brazil

Portilho et al.

The present study used data from the 2023 ICT Households Survey conducted by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br|NIC.br) to analyze internet access among women in Brazil, as well as their engagement in online health-related activities (searching for health information, accessing government digital services, and using public health services). These indicators were compared based on education level, age, area of residence (urban or rural), and social class. The data revealed higher internet usage rates among young women (95% for ages 10–15 and 96% for ages 16–24), those in social class A, the highest social class bracket (98%), urban residents (86%), and women with higher education (97%). In turn, lower usage rates were observed among older women (56% for ages 60 or older), those in social class DE (73%), rural residents (80%), and women with no formal education or only preschool education (32%). This was observed across all variables investigated, except for the use of public online services, which was low across all categories. The results highlight that women facing greater social and economic vulnerability (low income, rural residence, or low educational attainment) face significant barriers to accessing digital health services. It is recommended that public policies on inclusion and digital governance address these disparities by promoting greater access to the internet and other technologies for women, which could enhance their access to healthcare services.

Article's language
Portuguese
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