Women First Digital (WFD)
A Gender-transformative partnership for inclusive provision and access to reproductive health solutions through eHealth initiatives
The digital revolution is transforming how increasing numbers of people access sexual and reproductive health care and information. The increasing use of technology provides a unique opportunity to reach vulnerable populations, who are excluded from traditional healthcare systems; or burdened by geographic barriers; high costs; and stigma. Women and young people increasingly turn to the internet as the first touch-point for information, including guidance about reproductive health and abortion information.
The IHB-WFD partnership employs eHealth social enterprise platforms that leverage the power of this digital revolution by reaching women and young people directly on their handheld devices. By leveraging digital technology, we make sexual and reproductive health more universally accessible and equitable with practical and easy-to-understand information, including for SRHR self-care. In addition, we foster online communities where users can share information,
obtain online counselling or referrals, and determine pathways to services and products.
Our user-oriented digital platforms also enhance the overall health and wellbeing of women and youth by connecting them to the information, products, and services, they seek, effectively bridging social health inequities. Our comprehensive digital toolkit and data-driven approaches ensure content evolves to meet the needs of core audiences, while our open-source software and interoperability promote strategic partnerships and expand reach.
Our platforms include consumer-facing, innovative websites, new technologies like artificially intelligent chatbots and community-driven forums, as well as a targeted on-the-ground presence in communities and among individuals with low or no internet access. Together, we work to minimize barriers, improve reach, and strengthen women’s decision-making power.
Digital platforms that inform and empower communities:
Our e-SRHR initiative uses the following platforms to reach, inform, empower and link communities of vulnerable persons to safe and confidential priority SRHR information and services they need.
These include:
- safe2choose.org, a real-time online SRHR counseling support platform for women through live chat and email;
- pinkshoes.org, which offers simple, stepwise instructions for critical but often stigmatized safe SRH, information and services, including post-abortion care; and
- FindMyMethod.org, which is yet another digital innovation, offering comprehensive, multilingual and jargon-free contraceptive information to help women address common questions and concerns that may impede uptake and continued use of contraceptive services.
Linking the virtual space to on-the-ground partnerships:
Though our gender-transformative initiative for SRHR self-care works primarily in the digital space, offline initiatives are critical and strategic. We therefore, recognize that while internet penetration rates are increasing across the world, there are still large portions of the population that do not have access to the internet, including vulnerable women and youth. These groups still need safe abortion and reproductive health information.
To address this information gap and reduce unmet need, our local (in-country) teams support offline marketing and outreach by strengthening relationships with on-the ground organizations, provider networks, women and youth action groups, and university youth clubs.