Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi

Hamelmal Kahsay; Girmay Berhie; Alfred Cecchetti

doi:doi:10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

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Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi

Hamelmal Kahsay^*

, Girmay Berhie

, Alfred Cecchetti

Published in Science, Technology & Public Policy (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 2 May 2025 Accepted: 29 May 2025 Published: 24 July 2025

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Abstract

This study examines perceptions of healthcare wearable technology among African American communities in Mississippi, focusing on two key demographic groups: church leaders and college students. As the first systematic investigation of this kind, the research explores critical factors influencing adoption and trust in wearable devices, including their perceived usefulness in managing chronic conditions, potential to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs, data-sharing willingness, and concerns about device accuracy and privacy. A mixed-methods approach analyzed survey data from 435 participants (247 church members and 188 students) using frequency distributions and chi-square tests. Findings reveal significant generational and group-based differences: older participants and church members reported more chronic conditions and stronger agreement on the benefits of wearables. At the same time, younger students expressed higher trust in data and greater comfort with sharing health information. Concerns around data security, affordability, and device accuracy, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones, emerged as key barriers to adoption. The study’s findings underscore the importance of culturally informed strategies to promote equitable access to wearable health technologies, especially in communities disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These insights can guide future public health initiatives and technology design to ensure inclusivity and address long-standing health disparities.

Published in	Science, Technology & Public Policy (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11
Page(s)	71-79
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Healthcare Wearables, African American Communities, Technology Adoption, Chronic Disease Management, Health Equity, Data Privacy and Trust, Generational Differences, Digital Health

References

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Kahsay, H., Berhie, G., Cecchetti, A. (2025). Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi. Science, Technology & Public Policy, 9(2), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

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Kahsay, H.; Berhie, G.; Cecchetti, A. Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi. Sci. Technol. Public Policy 2025, 9(2), 71-79. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

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AMA Style

Kahsay H, Berhie G, Cecchetti A. Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi. Sci Technol Public Policy. 2025;9(2):71-79. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

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@article{10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11,
  author = {Hamelmal Kahsay and Girmay Berhie and Alfred Cecchetti},
  title = {Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi
},
  journal = {Science, Technology & Public Policy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {71-79},
  doi = {10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.stpp.20250902.11},
  abstract = {This study examines perceptions of healthcare wearable technology among African American communities in Mississippi, focusing on two key demographic groups: church leaders and college students. As the first systematic investigation of this kind, the research explores critical factors influencing adoption and trust in wearable devices, including their perceived usefulness in managing chronic conditions, potential to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs, data-sharing willingness, and concerns about device accuracy and privacy. A mixed-methods approach analyzed survey data from 435 participants (247 church members and 188 students) using frequency distributions and chi-square tests. Findings reveal significant generational and group-based differences: older participants and church members reported more chronic conditions and stronger agreement on the benefits of wearables. At the same time, younger students expressed higher trust in data and greater comfort with sharing health information. Concerns around data security, affordability, and device accuracy, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones, emerged as key barriers to adoption. The study’s findings underscore the importance of culturally informed strategies to promote equitable access to wearable health technologies, especially in communities disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These insights can guide future public health initiatives and technology design to ensure inclusivity and address long-standing health disparities.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi

AU  - Hamelmal Kahsay
AU  - Girmay Berhie
AU  - Alfred Cecchetti
Y1  - 2025/07/24
PY  - 2025
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DO  - 10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11
T2  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
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AB  - This study examines perceptions of healthcare wearable technology among African American communities in Mississippi, focusing on two key demographic groups: church leaders and college students. As the first systematic investigation of this kind, the research explores critical factors influencing adoption and trust in wearable devices, including their perceived usefulness in managing chronic conditions, potential to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs, data-sharing willingness, and concerns about device accuracy and privacy. A mixed-methods approach analyzed survey data from 435 participants (247 church members and 188 students) using frequency distributions and chi-square tests. Findings reveal significant generational and group-based differences: older participants and church members reported more chronic conditions and stronger agreement on the benefits of wearables. At the same time, younger students expressed higher trust in data and greater comfort with sharing health information. Concerns around data security, affordability, and device accuracy, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones, emerged as key barriers to adoption. The study’s findings underscore the importance of culturally informed strategies to promote equitable access to wearable health technologies, especially in communities disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These insights can guide future public health initiatives and technology design to ensure inclusivity and address long-standing health disparities.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Hamelmal Kahsay

Informatics and Analytics Programs, Jackson State University, Jackson, USA

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-3848-2286
Girmay Berhie

Informatics and Analytics Programs, Jackson State University, Jackson, USA

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-9082-9594
Alfred Cecchetti

Department of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshal University, Huntington, USA

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6249-7310

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APA Style

Kahsay, H., Berhie, G., Cecchetti, A. (2025). Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi. Science, Technology & Public Policy, 9(2), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

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ACS Style

Kahsay, H.; Berhie, G.; Cecchetti, A. Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi. Sci. Technol. Public Policy 2025, 9(2), 71-79. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

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AMA Style

Kahsay H, Berhie G, Cecchetti A. Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi. Sci Technol Public Policy. 2025;9(2):71-79. doi: 10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11,
  author = {Hamelmal Kahsay and Girmay Berhie and Alfred Cecchetti},
  title = {Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi
},
  journal = {Science, Technology & Public Policy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {71-79},
  doi = {10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.stpp.20250902.11},
  abstract = {This study examines perceptions of healthcare wearable technology among African American communities in Mississippi, focusing on two key demographic groups: church leaders and college students. As the first systematic investigation of this kind, the research explores critical factors influencing adoption and trust in wearable devices, including their perceived usefulness in managing chronic conditions, potential to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs, data-sharing willingness, and concerns about device accuracy and privacy. A mixed-methods approach analyzed survey data from 435 participants (247 church members and 188 students) using frequency distributions and chi-square tests. Findings reveal significant generational and group-based differences: older participants and church members reported more chronic conditions and stronger agreement on the benefits of wearables. At the same time, younger students expressed higher trust in data and greater comfort with sharing health information. Concerns around data security, affordability, and device accuracy, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones, emerged as key barriers to adoption. The study’s findings underscore the importance of culturally informed strategies to promote equitable access to wearable health technologies, especially in communities disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These insights can guide future public health initiatives and technology design to ensure inclusivity and address long-standing health disparities.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessing the Impact of Healthcare Wearables on Improving Health Disparities in Minority Communities in Mississippi

AU  - Hamelmal Kahsay
AU  - Girmay Berhie
AU  - Alfred Cecchetti
Y1  - 2025/07/24
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11
T2  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
JF  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
JO  - Science, Technology & Public Policy
SP  - 71
EP  - 79
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4621
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.stpp.20250902.11
AB  - This study examines perceptions of healthcare wearable technology among African American communities in Mississippi, focusing on two key demographic groups: church leaders and college students. As the first systematic investigation of this kind, the research explores critical factors influencing adoption and trust in wearable devices, including their perceived usefulness in managing chronic conditions, potential to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs, data-sharing willingness, and concerns about device accuracy and privacy. A mixed-methods approach analyzed survey data from 435 participants (247 church members and 188 students) using frequency distributions and chi-square tests. Findings reveal significant generational and group-based differences: older participants and church members reported more chronic conditions and stronger agreement on the benefits of wearables. At the same time, younger students expressed higher trust in data and greater comfort with sharing health information. Concerns around data security, affordability, and device accuracy, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones, emerged as key barriers to adoption. The study’s findings underscore the importance of culturally informed strategies to promote equitable access to wearable health technologies, especially in communities disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These insights can guide future public health initiatives and technology design to ensure inclusivity and address long-standing health disparities.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download