Cross-cultural perspectives on eHealth privacy in Africa

Abstract

The African continent is making considerable strides to develop and implement technology-driven health innovations. Policymakers are increasingly acknowledging the rising concerns for online personal privacy and data protection as advances in eHealth results in increased levels of data collection and surveillance. In this paper, we propose a research agenda to investigate the effect of cultural, constitutional, and societal factors on privacy concerns and preferences among the different African countries in the context of healthcare technologies. In addition to helping us understand policy and design implications for members of this region, this research will broaden our understanding of cultural factors influencing privacy worldwide.