ICT and healthcare: A closer look at the role of ICTs in providing support for female victims/ survivors of domestic violence (DV)

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to support and facilitate interactions on the Web has increased in the amount of users, communities, and organizations. Computer-Mediated Communications (CMC) is among the most frequently studied and used ICT. As a communications medium, CMC has the ability to connect geographically dispersed individuals without the constraints of time or space. CMC helps foster online communities-where individuals with similar interests and/ or experiences can come together. It is the ability to connect people that make these ICTs a valuable tool for social support. Thus, this chapter proposes the need to explore the use of ICT, specifically the role of CMC as a support medium for victims/survivors of Domestic Violence (DV), a topic germane to healthcare and the overall general well-being of females, their families, and societies at large.