International study reveals that investments in health information system capacity can reduce barriers to global public health data sharing.
Researchers from University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Sandra Rotman Centre of University Health Network & University of Toronto, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, INDEPTH Network, The Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, and Chatham House London recently published a literature review of barriers to global public health data sharing.
They found six main categories of barriers: technical, motivational, economic, political, legal, and ethical. Countries affected by conflict, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, have seen their public health surveillance systems deteriorate. Countries with low levels of resources are often so overburdened by disease and lack of infrastructure that data collection and analysis are not priorities.
nuviun created an infographic to summarize the main barriers to data sharing found in the BioMed Central article.
Jenn Lonzer has a B.A. in English from Cleveland State University and an M.A. in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University. Passionate about access to care and social justice issues, Jenn writes on global digital health developments, research, and trends. Follow Jenn on Twitter @jnnprater3.
