Digital Health and Women: An Integrative Literature Review on Access to Healthcare Services from an Intersectional Perspective

Abstract

This article explores the implications of healthcare digitalization for women’s access to health services, focusing on digital exclusion, gender equity, and intersectionality. Through an integrative literature review conducted across four bibliographic databases, it was selected and analyzed 22 articles addressing digital health, gender, and the digital exclusion. Findings revealed significant disparities between the Global Nor th and Global South. This ar ticle also highlights critical gaps in the literature, such as the lack of research focused on the Global South, the relationship between digital health and unpaid care work, and data protection issues, particularly for women in vulnerable situations. Intersectionality is a critical tool for understanding how interconnected oppressions exacerbate inequalities in the access to digital health. The research contributes to the field by proposing an agenda prioritizing marginalized contexts, fostering inclusive digital solutions. The conclusion underscores the need for public policies that address structural barriers and promote digital literacy, data protection, and gender equity to ensure that the benefits of digitalization are widely distributed.