Call for Papers: Digital Inclusion in the Global South
This theme issue in the Journal of Medical Internet Research invites submissions that examine the evolving evidence on digital transformation across the Global South through a “promise and peril” lens. This theme issue explores how digital inclusion in the Global South shapes access, agency, and impact for health and well-being across development contexts. It brings together research that advances how digital access and use are measured, examines the gendered dimensions of digital inequality, and investigates how digital innovations are transforming health systems, the health workforce, related livelihoods, and social determinants of health. Across these areas, the issue emphasizes both the opportunities and risks of digital transformation, with a focus on generating evidence that can inform more equitable, effective, and context-responsive policies and interventions to improve health outcomes and well-being.
Papers submitted to this theme issue may explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:
Rethinking metrics: innovations in measurement and data use
This focus area examines novel approaches to measuring digital access, inclusion, and impact across diverse contexts in the Global South. It highlights methodological advances, new indices, and digital data innovations that improve understanding of inequalities in digital access and use, along with their broader social and economic impacts. Contributions may include methodological studies introducing new survey instruments, research tools, data sources, or validated questionnaires, as well as the development of indicators, indices, and conceptual frameworks. The focus also welcomes applied research demonstrating practical and innovative measurement approaches in varied settings, highlighting how these methods can generate more accurate, timely, and context-sensitive insights into digital inclusion.
Gendered digital realities: access, agency, and inclusion
This focus area examines how gender shapes digital access, connectivity, competency, and related outcomes—including health and livelihoods—by highlighting structural barriers, social norms, and intersectional inequalities while also exploring opportunities for empowerment through digital interventions, including women-led initiatives and the role of self-help groups in advancing digital inclusion.
Digital innovations across health and livelihoods
This focus area examines how digital tools and platforms are transforming health systems, the health workforce, and livelihood opportunities—particularly for systemically marginalized populations. It includes efforts to improve the adoption, use, and impacts of digital innovations among key groups such as frontline health workers, women’s economic empowerment collectives, and other community-based organizations, with clear implications for health outcomes and well-being.
Submission and publication process:
Submit your paper to the Journal of Medical Internet Research by selecting “Digital Inclusion in the Global South: Navigating Access, Agency, and Impact” in the “Section” drop-down list. See the article How do I submit to a theme issue? in our Knowledge Base and consult our Instructions for Authors for more information.
All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, and accepted articles will be published as part of a special issue “Digital Inclusion in the Global South: Navigating Access, Agency, and Impact.”
All peer-reviewed articles will be made immediately and permanently open access.
Articles will be made immediately available in JMIR Preprints (with a DOI); authors are required to select this option at submission.
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2027
Cascading Review and Transfer:
Submissions not reviewed or accepted for publication in this theme issue in the Journal of Medical Internet Research may be offered cascading peer review or transfer to other JMIR Publications journals.
Guest Editors
Dr Amnesty LeFevre
Associate Professor, University of Cape Town’s School of Public Health
Associate, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Director, EDiT Consortium
Co-Director, Hasso-Plattner Digital Health Partnership
Dr Karthik Adapa
Regional Adviser for Digital Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office
Dr Diwakar Mohan
Associate Research Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Co-Director, EDiT Consortium
Dr Kerry Scott
Assistant Professor, York University
Co-Director, EDiT Consortium
Dr Ridhi Kashyap
Professor, Department of Sociology, Nuffield College, and Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford