Co-creating the Africa youth in digital health network: insights from an iterative, consultative process
1
1 Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2
2 Digital Health Africa, Lagos, Nigeria
3
3 Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, KAAF University, Fetteh Kakaraba, Ghana
4
4 College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
5
5 MyBelle Digital Maternal and Child Health Organization, Ibadan, Nigeria
6
6 Pharmarun, Lagos, Nigeria
7
7 Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
8
8 Digital Transformations for Health Lab, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
9
9 Nova Scotia Health Authority, Nova Scotia, Canada
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Digital health presents a transformative opportunity to address long-standing healthcare disparities across Africa, yet the voices and contributions of the continent’s youth remain underrepresented in policy and implementation frameworks. We describe the co-creation process of the Africa Youth in Digital Health Network (YiDHN), established under the auspices of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to unite and empower young digital health leaders across the continent.
METHODS:
A mixed-methods, multi-phase consultation process was conducted between September and October 2024, which included a validated bilingual online survey distributed across social media platforms and regional youth networks, and an in-person co-creation workshop held in Kigali, Rwanda. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Power BI, and qualitative responses and workshop insights were thematically analyzed and triangulated to inform the design and priorities of the network.
RESULTS:
480 youths from across Africa filled the online survey, and 50 youth leaders participated in the in-person workshop. Most respondents were actively involved in digital health, primarily in mHealth, health information systems, AI, and telemedicine. Key motivations included improving healthcare access and career development. The consultations revealed significant barriers, including funding limitations, skill gaps, and exclusion from policy dialogues, alongside a wealth of innovative ideas, entrepreneurial drive, and a shared aspiration to transform healthcare systems. Participants advocated for a hybrid governance model with centralized coordination and regional representation. Youths emphasized the need for capacity building, sustained support from experienced practitioners, and policy reforms to foster an inclusive digital health ecosystem.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrates that co-creation through structured, iterative consultation is a viable means for building sustainable youth-led digital health networks in Africa. Lessons from this process are essential for institutionalizing youth participation in digital health governance and health innovation globally.
Digital health presents a transformative opportunity to address long-standing healthcare disparities across Africa, yet the voices and contributions of the continent’s youth remain underrepresented in policy and implementation frameworks. We describe the co-creation process of the Africa Youth in Digital Health Network (YiDHN), established under the auspices of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to unite and empower young digital health leaders across the continent.
METHODS:
A mixed-methods, multi-phase consultation process was conducted between September and October 2024, which included a validated bilingual online survey distributed across social media platforms and regional youth networks, and an in-person co-creation workshop held in Kigali, Rwanda. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Power BI, and qualitative responses and workshop insights were thematically analyzed and triangulated to inform the design and priorities of the network.
RESULTS:
480 youths from across Africa filled the online survey, and 50 youth leaders participated in the in-person workshop. Most respondents were actively involved in digital health, primarily in mHealth, health information systems, AI, and telemedicine. Key motivations included improving healthcare access and career development. The consultations revealed significant barriers, including funding limitations, skill gaps, and exclusion from policy dialogues, alongside a wealth of innovative ideas, entrepreneurial drive, and a shared aspiration to transform healthcare systems. Participants advocated for a hybrid governance model with centralized coordination and regional representation. Youths emphasized the need for capacity building, sustained support from experienced practitioners, and policy reforms to foster an inclusive digital health ecosystem.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrates that co-creation through structured, iterative consultation is a viable means for building sustainable youth-led digital health networks in Africa. Lessons from this process are essential for institutionalizing youth participation in digital health governance and health innovation globally.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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