Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US
BackgroundHealthcare disparities remain a significant challenge in addressing equitable healthcare access and outcomes for minority populations, including African Americans. Rooted in systemic racism and historical exclusion, these inequities persist as part of broader structural violence. Leveragin...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1547189/full |
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| author | Ebenezer Larnyo Sharon Tettegah Sharon Tettegah Jonathan Aseye Nutakor Stephen Addai-Dansoh Francisca Arboh |
| author_facet | Ebenezer Larnyo Sharon Tettegah Sharon Tettegah Jonathan Aseye Nutakor Stephen Addai-Dansoh Francisca Arboh |
| author_sort | Ebenezer Larnyo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHealthcare disparities remain a significant challenge in addressing equitable healthcare access and outcomes for minority populations, including African Americans. Rooted in systemic racism and historical exclusion, these inequities persist as part of broader structural violence. Leveraging health technology holds promise in addressing these disparities by enhancing access to care, improving its quality, and reducing inequities. However, the association between health technology access, use, socioeconomic status (SES), and healthcare disparities among African Americans remains underexplored. This study aims to explore the potential role of technology in mitigating healthcare disparities by investigating the associations between technology access, healthcare technology use, socioeconomic status (SES), and health disparities among African Americans.MethodsUsing data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Wave 6 dataset, a sample of 815 African Americans was analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results of the study showed that technology access had a significant positive effect on healthcare technology use (β = 0.260, p < 0.000). Technology access (β = −0.086, p = 0.034) and healthcare technology use (β = −0.180, p < 0.001) demonstrated a significant negative effect on healthcare disparity, respectively. Results also revealed SES had a significant positive effect on technology access (β = 0.424, p < 0.001). Additionally, SES was found to significantly moderate the relationship between technology access and healthcare disparities, indicating variability in the impact of technology access based on SES levels among African Americans.ConclusionThese findings highlight the potential of technology in mitigating healthcare disparities among African Americans. By promoting enhanced health technology access and utilization, particularly in lower SES populations, the healthcare outcomes for vulnerable communities can be significantly improved. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers are encouraged to collaborate in providing conducive conditions for the adoption and use of technology to advance healthcare equity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0fe96098c609438487eba543ea47ee7d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0fe96098c609438487eba543ea47ee7d2025-08-20T03:05:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15471891547189Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the USEbenezer Larnyo0Sharon Tettegah1Sharon Tettegah2Jonathan Aseye Nutakor3Stephen Addai-Dansoh4Francisca Arboh5Center for Black Studies Research, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United StatesCenter for Black Studies Research, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United StatesCollege of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United StatesDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Jiangsu University School of Management, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Jiangsu University School of Management, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, ChinaTeesside International Business School, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United KingdomBackgroundHealthcare disparities remain a significant challenge in addressing equitable healthcare access and outcomes for minority populations, including African Americans. Rooted in systemic racism and historical exclusion, these inequities persist as part of broader structural violence. Leveraging health technology holds promise in addressing these disparities by enhancing access to care, improving its quality, and reducing inequities. However, the association between health technology access, use, socioeconomic status (SES), and healthcare disparities among African Americans remains underexplored. This study aims to explore the potential role of technology in mitigating healthcare disparities by investigating the associations between technology access, healthcare technology use, socioeconomic status (SES), and health disparities among African Americans.MethodsUsing data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Wave 6 dataset, a sample of 815 African Americans was analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results of the study showed that technology access had a significant positive effect on healthcare technology use (β = 0.260, p < 0.000). Technology access (β = −0.086, p = 0.034) and healthcare technology use (β = −0.180, p < 0.001) demonstrated a significant negative effect on healthcare disparity, respectively. Results also revealed SES had a significant positive effect on technology access (β = 0.424, p < 0.001). Additionally, SES was found to significantly moderate the relationship between technology access and healthcare disparities, indicating variability in the impact of technology access based on SES levels among African Americans.ConclusionThese findings highlight the potential of technology in mitigating healthcare disparities among African Americans. By promoting enhanced health technology access and utilization, particularly in lower SES populations, the healthcare outcomes for vulnerable communities can be significantly improved. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers are encouraged to collaborate in providing conducive conditions for the adoption and use of technology to advance healthcare equity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1547189/fulltechnology accesshealthcare technology usetechnology inequitysocioeconomic statushealthcare disparity/health disparitiesAfrican American |
| spellingShingle | Ebenezer Larnyo Sharon Tettegah Sharon Tettegah Jonathan Aseye Nutakor Stephen Addai-Dansoh Francisca Arboh Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US Frontiers in Public Health technology access healthcare technology use technology inequity socioeconomic status healthcare disparity/health disparities African American |
| title | Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US |
| title_full | Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US |
| title_fullStr | Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US |
| title_full_unstemmed | Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US |
| title_short | Technology access, use, socioeconomic status, and healthcare disparities among African Americans in the US |
| title_sort | technology access use socioeconomic status and healthcare disparities among african americans in the us |
| topic | technology access healthcare technology use technology inequity socioeconomic status healthcare disparity/health disparities African American |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1547189/full |
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