Abstract:
Urban environments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face health inequities, exacerbated by difficulties in reaching marginalized populations with health services. Traditional health survey methods are not always feasible due to factors such as high population mobility, security, and language barriers. Digital research such as computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) and interactive voice response (IVR) systems may be promising alternatives, but they must be carefully designed to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. This presentation explores the design considerations for digital health research platforms, addressing inclusivity challenges, ethics, and data privacy through qualitative and quantitative research in Haiti, Chile, Kenya, and Nigeria. The findings offer valuable strategies for mitigating obstacles in digital data collection and improving research inclusivity.

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Belt RV, Rahimi K, Cai S. Researching the hard-to-reach: a scoping review protocol of digital health research in hidden, marginal and excluded populations. BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 28;12(9):e061361. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061361. PMID: 36171043; PMCID: PMC95
Belt, R.V., Jacques, N., Pierre, L. et al. Providing healthcare under the threat of gang-violence: a survey of Haitian healthcare providers. Confl Health 18, 53 (2024). doi.org/10.1186/s13031-024-00612-6