THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS ON ELDERLY HEALTH INFORMATION PRACTICES
Abstract
The digital transformation of health systems has reshaped how health information is accessed and utilized, yet older adults remain unevenly positioned to benefit from these advancements. This study examined the influence of digital literacy and technological tools on elderly health information practices, with particular focus on informal settlement contexts in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model, Digital Divide Theory, and the Health Belief Model. The study employed a desk-based review complemented by contextual case analysis to synthesize empirical evidence published between 2015 and 2025. Findings reveal that digital literacy is a critical determinant of elderly engagement with digital health platforms, influencing information-seeking behavior, confidence, and chronic disease self-management. While technologies such as mobile phones, SMS-based services, telemedicine platforms, and health applications enhance access to health information, their effectiveness is mediated by usability, affordability, infrastructural reliability, and social support. Older adults commonly adopt hybrid strategies that combine digital and traditional information sources, relying heavily on family members and community health volunteers as intermediaries. Persistent barriers, including low baseline eHealth literacy, cost constraints, accessibility challenges, and trust concerns, continue to limit equitable digital health participation. The study recommends integrated interventions including age-responsive digital literacy training, age-friendly low-bandwidth technology design, subsidized device and connectivity access, and formal social support structures.
Keywords: Digital Literacy, Health Information, Digital Health Literacy, Health Information Access, Informal Settlements
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