Cross Cultural Telemedicine: Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This STS report addresses the social and cultural factors at play in the use of telemedicine in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in order to inform an understanding of the interaction between technology and society in that region. This research is a review of existing technologies, rather than a report on new technologies. The socio-cultural dimensions of telemedicine are important to consider because telemedicine is a socio-technical system reliant on socio-cultural factors rather than a strictly technical based system. Actor Network Theory is relevant to analyzing this problem and provides insight into the ways that human and non-human players interact and the resulting consequences. Literature review is used to collect data about socio-cultural factors intrinsic to telemedicine and telemedicine's place in healthcare. I find that collective viewpoints, traditional medicine, and perceptions of illness are interrelated factors that will especially affect the cross-cultural interaction that telemedicine introduces. SSA patients especially value equal treatment and being valued as patients; ultimately, communication will be a vital tool for addressing concerns about treatment and overcoming differences in understanding.