Principle Investigator: Dr. Md. Anwarul Islam , Professor , Department of Information Science and Library Management
Co-Investigator:
Duration: 2 Year (2024-2026)
Amount: $4000
Funding Authority: Purdue University, USA
Co-Investigator:
Bhakti Gala, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Gujarat, Gujarat, India, 382030
Aminath Riyaz, Department of Social Sciences, The Maldives National University, Maldives
Raj Kumar Bhardwaj, St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, India
Tabassum Aslam, Teaching Research & Resource Center-3 (Center for Social Sciences Collection), & Case Study Unit, Lahore School of Economics, Punjab, Pakistan.
Dr. Md. Anwarul Islam, Professor in the Department of Information Science and Library Management, has been awarded a $4,000 research grant from Purdue University for the 2024-2026 project titled "AI and Health Information Literacy: A Study Exploring Perceived Usefulness and Readiness Among Women in South Asia." As the Principal Investigator, Dr. Islam is collaborating with a team of distinguished researchers from across South Asia. His co-investigators include: Dr. Bhakti Gala, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Gujarat, India; Dr. Aminath Riyaz, Department of Social Sciences, The Maldives National University, Maldives; Dr. Raj Kumar Bhardwaj, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, India and Dr. Tabassum Aslam, Lahore School of Economics, Punjab, Pakistan This cross-national research effort aims to deepen understanding of AI and health information literacy, focusing specifically on the needs and readiness of women in the region.
The South Asian (SA) region faces significant challenges in ensuring access to accurate and reliable health information, particularly for women from underrepresented or marginalized communities. Misinformation, limited literacy levels, and cultural barriers contribute to disparities in health outcomes and decision-making processes. In this context, understanding and measuring health information literacy (HIL) among SA women is crucial for empowering them to make informed decisions about their health. This project explores the intersection of HIL and artificial intelligence (AI) in improving health outcomes for SA women. Understanding how women in South Asia perceive the usefulness of AI in enhancing HIL and the factors that influence readiness to adopt AI-driven health information technologies will yield useful results. The project is proposed as a qualitative research, collecting in-depth data through focus group discussions across a stratified cross-section of at least 30 women from each participating SA country (India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). The findings from the project can assist policymakers and governments in creating HIL policies tailored specifically for women in this region, leading to better healthcare outcomes, informed decision-making, and increased gender equality. These findings also help to achieve Goal# 3 and Goal #5 in this region set by the UNSDGs