From Digital Health Literacy to a Digital and Data Capabilities Approach to Sexual Health

Abstract Introduction This article presents a narrative review of scholarly literature addressing the intersection of digital technologies and sexual health, to better understand how digital literacy is currently defined and assessed in this context. It critically reflects on cross-disciplinary literature from across sexual health, digital literacy, and data literacy, to better understand the implications of emergent Australian policy agendas for sexual health workforces. Methods A narrative review of research addressing digital literacy within sexual health literature was conducted in 2022, adopting a sociotechnical approach. A search of 7 databases resulted in 30 full-text articles included for review after duplicates and unrelated results were removed. Results Current definitions of digital literacy are contradictory and at times unclear. Additionally, a consideration of data literacy for sexual health is yet to emerge. Further, literature addressing “digital literacy for sexual health,” has tended to frame literacy as a need (or deficit) for individual sexual health consumers, excluding the digital literacy of health workforces from consideration. Conclusions Drawing on recent research into data capabilities, we note that where the concept of “literacy” has historically been associated with attempts to measure and remediate individual deficits, a “capabilities” approach offers an opportunity to rethink the collective and systemic dimensions of digital and data practices for sexual health workforces and consumers alike. Policy implications Our analysis highlights the potential risk of disenfranchising and stigmatising sexual health workforces and consumers via initiatives promoting digital literacy. We endorse a holistic “capabilities approach” to digital transformation policy and infrastructure.