Collective Consciousness of Positive Health: A Sociological Exploration among Informal Workers in the Digital Health Arena

Abstract

In modern digitised world, access to health information via literatures on digital platforms has the potential to reshape the health perception and behaviours in society especially the marginalised community. The concept of positive health extends beyond mere absence of disease and encompasses physical, mental and social being as a holistic goal. Informal Workers often face precarious working conditions and limited access health care services. This makes this community a fit case for understanding how digital literacy and online health resources impact their health outcomes. Drawing on sociological framework of health and digital inequality, this paper investigates the extent to which digital platforms disseminate the health knowledge and foster the collective consciousness of health and well being among them. It further examines the socio-cultural barriers: class, education and technology access that influences their interaction with and benefit from the digital health resources. Through qualitative analysis of interviews and focus groups with Informal Workers, this paper brings out how digital health literacy shapes individual and community health practices. The findings also underscore the need for targeted approach for addressing the digital divide and making available the culturally relevant digital health literature to enhance their health outcomes. Finally, the study offer insights into how digital transformation of health literature interacts with lived experiences of informal workers and the way it could promote the positive health among the said vulnerable population.