Is there a digital divide among school students? an exploratory study from Puducherry

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• The internet facilitates interactive health promotion messages, potentially driving behavior change in children.
• Understanding internet usage patterns among school students is crucial for targeted interventions.
• This study addresses the growing need to explore digital engagement in youth health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of internet use among school students in Puducherry.
• To identify key factors influencing internet access and utilization in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study surveyed 421 students (grades VI-IX) in urban and rural Puducherry schools.
• A pretested, self-administered questionnaire collected data on demographics, internet usage, access locations, duration, and reasons for use.
• Chi-square tests were employed for statistical analysis of categorical variables (P < 0.05).

Main Results:

• Only 23.8% of students reported using the internet, with a majority (72.2%) being boys.
• Internet use was significantly higher among mid-adolescents (Adjusted OR: 2.205), boys (Adjusted OR: 3.835), and students from urban areas (Adjusted OR: 4.694).

Conclusions:

• A notable geographical and gender disparity exists in internet usage among school children.
• Addressing the digital divide is essential to leverage the internet for effective health promotion strategies.
• Targeted approaches are needed to ensure equitable access and utilization of digital health resources.