DO MHEALTH APPS AMPLIFY THE DIGITAL DIVIDE? ASSESSING THE USE OF MOBILE HEALTH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

The recent COVID-19 pandemic was pivotal to the global adoption of mHealth and other digital technologies. The critical need for behavioural containment measures, created numerous digital health technological advantages to sustaining healthcare especially in developing, resource-constrained countries. However, it is debatable whether using digital technologies exacerbated the digital divide existent health disparities among rural communities in developing countries. The study attempted to determine the use of the South African government's COVID-19 HealthAlert App by a rural South African township community. Theoretically, the Digital Health Equity Framework underpinned the study. A quantitative research approach using a cross-sectional survey design among 197 residents, was adopted. Major findings indicate that 55% of the participants used the health App and 89% used smartphones to access online information and use mobile Apps frequently. and used the information provided by the Covid19 HealthAlert App to manage their health during the pandemic. Most participants stated that ease of using the App was enhanced by the fact that it was zero-rated, meaning they could access it without data or an Internet connection. However, lack of digital security through perceived lack of privacy and the protection of personal information were cited as concerns deterring the use of mHealth Apps. The study was important by contributing to scholarship regarding the use of mHealth Apps for health-seeking behaviour by rural communities during a health crisis, specifically the debate about the digital health divide. It informs health promotion organisations about digital health technologies user experiences by rural communities for effectiveness.