From Digital Divide to Information Equity in Public Health for Visually Impaired People: Developing a Research Agenda

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation in healthcare, exposing inequities in accessing online health information and services, particularly for visually impaired people. This paper reviews literature on the factors that influence the digital divide beyond purely technological provisions. Using the frameworks of 'digital disability divide' and 'information inequity', it identifies social, technological, financial, political, and motivational factors that influence the digital divide and information inequity experiences of visually impaired people. The literature review also finds that public health institutions often meet only minimal accessibility standards, exacerbating inequities. It proposes future research to explore nuanced experiences of visually impaired people and the impact of digital transformation maturity on accessibility practices, aiming to enhance inclusive design in digital health platforms.