The relationship between AI and people’s health information is increasingly significant, and AI chatbot provides significantly more accurate answers to patients. However, while technology can help, it is up to people to decide how they want to use it. Even an AI tool like ChatGPT says “ChatGPT can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.” Using AI tools to make health-related decisions requires a good understanding of the information these tools provide. The current project members from four south Asian countries received a $4000 research grant from the Institute for Information Literacy at Purdue (IILP), Purdue University for the year 2024-2026 for the project “AI and Health Information Literacy: A study exploring the perceived usefulness, and readiness among women in South Asia.” The proposed project aims to address the questions like “How do women in South Asia (SA) perceive the usefulness of AI in enhancing health information literacy?” and “What  factors  influence  their  readiness  to  adopt  AI-driven  health  information technologies?”

The focus group discussion (FGD) participants for this project will be women residing in selected South Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These women, aged 18 and above, will represent diverse segments of society, including students, self-employed individuals, housewives, and formally employed professionals. Participants will be categorized into three age groups—youth, middle-aged, and elderly—to capture perspectives and experiences across different life stages. Each participating country will conduct FGDs with at least three groups, comprising a minimum of 10 women per group. To raise awareness about the project, workshops will be held in each participating country, inviting women from various age groups and social classes. Following these workshops, participants for the FGDs will be recruited. Additionally, we plan to conduct Zoom interviews with participants from the member countries. These workshops will also help us assess general awareness, such as the health apps they use, their approaches to health-related issues, and other common health challenges they face.

This project seeks to develop an innovative Health Information Literacy (HIL) model powered by AI, uniting experts from diverse fields to address the health challenges faced by women in South Asia. By leveraging this interdisciplinary approach, the project aims to equip healthcare professionals, librarians, educators, and information scholars with effective tools to combat misinformation and promote critical evaluation of health information. While the Institute of Information Literacy at Purdue focuses on advancing IL models in various contexts, our proposed framework aim to guide policymakers and governments in designing health information literacy policies specifically tailored to the needs of women in this region.

By promoting healthcare access and services that address gender disparities, this project supports Goal #3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and Goal #5 (Gender Equality) of the Sustainable Development Goals. It aims to build healthier communities and empower individuals of all genders to lead fulfilling lives. Understanding women’s perspectives on Health Information Literacy (HIL) and AI adoption serves as a crucial first step in evaluating the readiness to integrate health information technology into their daily lives. This initiative represents the first regional effort to explore women’s perceptions of HIL through the lens of AI tools. The insights gained from this study could inspire further research in health information literacy and related fields.

The project team has members from four countries representing South Asia region. The project is being led by Md. Anwarul Islam, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bhakti Gala, Central University of Gujarat, India; Aminath Riyaz, Maldives National University, Maldives; Raj Kumar Bhardwaj, St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, India; Tabassum Aslam, Lahore School of Economics, Pakistan.