Association between Digital Literacy and Utilization of Healthcare Services among Women in India

This study attempts to understand the association between digital literacy and the utilization of maternal healthcare services among women in India, utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-2021).Digital literacy, defined as the ability to effectively use digital tools and platforms, plays a crucial role in accessing healthcare information and services, particularly in a rapidly digitalizing world.The study assesses three key maternal healthcare components: Antenatal care (ANC), institutional delivery, and postnatal care (PNC).It explores the influence of digital literacy indicators, including mobile phone ownership, internet use, and text message reading, on service utilization.Findings reveal significant disparities in digital literacy based on age, residence, education, wealth, religion, and occupation.Women with digital literacy demonstrated higher utilization rates across all maternal healthcare services.For instance, digitally literate women had higher institutional delivery rates (96.9%)compared to those without digital literacy (86.5%).Urban residents, educated individuals, and wealthier groups exhibited greater digital proficiency, translating into improved healthcare access.The study underscores the transformative potential of digital literacy in enhancing maternal healthcare utilization and highlights the need for targeted interventions to bridge digital divides among marginalized groups, ensuring equitable healthcare access and improving maternal health outcomes in India.