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The struggle for digital inclusion: Phones, healthcare, and marginalisation in rural India

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  • Haenssgen, Marco J.

Abstract

The gains from digital technology diffusion are deemed essential for international development, but they are also distributed unevenly. Does the uneven distribution mean that not everyone benefits from new technologies to the same extent, or do some people experience an absolute disadvantage during this process? I explore this question through the case study of curative healthcare access in the context of rapid mobile phone uptake in rural India, contributing thus to an important yet surprisingly under-researched aspect of the social implications of (mobile) technology diffusion.

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  • Haenssgen, Marco J., 2018. "The struggle for digital inclusion: Phones, healthcare, and marginalisation in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 358-374.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:104:y:2018:i:c:p:358-374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.12.023
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    1. R Vaidehi & A Bheemeshwar Reddy & Sudatta Banerjee, 2021. "Explaining Caste-based Digital Divide in India," Papers 2106.15917, arXiv.org.
    2. Jamil, Abd Rahim Md. & Law, Siong Hook & Mohamad Khair-Afham, M.S. & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2023. "Financial inclusion and economic uncertainty in developing countries: The role of digitalisation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 786-806.
    3. Zhenyu Sun & Wei Sun & Hongliang Gao & Ruobing Fa & Shaofan Chen & Dongfu Qian, 2023. "Digital Inclusion, Cultural Capital, and Health Status of Urban and Rural Residents: An Empirical Study Based on 2017 CGSS Database," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Adeel Ashfaq & Shawn Esmaili & Mona Najjar & Farva Batool & Tariq Mukatash & Hadeer Akram Al-Ani & Patrick Marius Koga, 2020. "Utilization of Mobile Mental Health Services among Syrian Refugees and Other Vulnerable Arab Populations—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-15, February.
    5. M Vimalkumar & Jang Bahadur Singh & Sujeet Kumar Sharma, 0. "Exploring the Multi-Level Digital Divide in Mobile Phone Adoption: A Comparison of Developing Nations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    6. Zhang, Qian & Webster, Natasha A. & Han, Shengnan & Ayele, Workneh Yilma, 2023. "Contextualizing the rural in digital studies: A computational literature review of rural-digital relations," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Shao, Qinglong & Kostka, Genia, 2023. "The COVID-19 pandemic and deepening digital inequalities in China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10).
    8. Xizi Cao & Mingyi Yan & Jun Wen, 2023. "Exploring the Level and Influencing Factors of Digital Village Development in China: Insights and Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, July.
    9. Arvind Ashta, 2018. "News and Trends in Fintech and Digital Microfinance: Why Are European MFIs Invisible?," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 7(4), pages 232-243, December.
    10. Hampshire, Kate & Mwase-Vuma, Tawonga & Alemu, Kassahun & Abane, Albert & Munthali, Alister & Awoke, Tadesse & Mariwah, Simon & Chamdimba, Elita & Owusu, Samuel Asiedu & Robson, Elsbeth & Castelli, Mi, 2021. "Informal mhealth at scale in Africa: Opportunities and challenges," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    11. Haenssgen, Marco J. & Charoenboon, Nutcha & Zanello, Giacomo, 2021. "You’ve got a friend in me: How social networks and mobile phones facilitate healthcare access among marginalised groups in rural Thailand and Lao PDR," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    12. Yi Xue Fang & Sarjit S. Gill & Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran & Mohd Roslan Rosnon & Ahmad Tarmizi Talib & Azureen Abd Aziz, 2022. "Digital Divide: An Inquiry on the Native Communities of Sabah," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, October.
    13. M Vimalkumar & Jang Bahadur Singh & Sujeet Kumar Sharma, 2021. "Exploring the Multi-Level Digital Divide in Mobile Phone Adoption: A Comparison of Developing Nations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1057-1076, August.

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