Objectives

Women First Digital (WFD) is transforming how sexual and reproductive healthcare is designed, delivered and accessed. At WFD, digital health is not just a buzzword, it’s a vital tool for delivering tangible healthcare benefits to all who need them. We prioritize individual self-care through convenient, affordable, and accessible digital solutions.

Its three main eHealth platforms—HowToUseAbortionPill.org, safe2choose.org, and FindMyMethod.org—are designed to support these objectives by offering comprehensive guidance and personalized care.

HowToUse offers stepwise, simple instructions for the safe management of an abortion with pills in 26 languages. Often the primary resource for women seeking accurate medical abortion information in their local language, HowToUse’s guidance for self-managed abortions is available for pregnancies up to 13 weeks and is delineated by each stage of the abortion process (before, how to, and after). HowToUse also has 58 country profiles that specify the legal parameters for abortion access; types of abortion methods available; abortion pill brands, costs, and images of common in-country pills; and local resources such as hotlines and clinics.

To ensure local relevance and ease of access, HowToUse is also available through French and Spanish URLs, namely comoabortarconpastillas.org and lapilule.org.

Strategy and Execution

howtouseabortionpill.org (HTU), an eHealth platform powered by Women First Digital (WFD) leverages AI to enhance global access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. Its key goals include reducing barriers to safe abortion and contraception, empowering women with accurate information, and promoting self-care via digital platforms. The launch of Ally, an AI-powered abortion virtual assistant available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Facebook Messenger, and HowToUseAbortionPill.org website, exemplifies these goals. By utilizing AI, Ally provides real-time, tailored information on abortion care, ensuring that women can access crucial SRH information discreetly and conveniently. This initiative aims to create a fairer, healthier world by improving women's decision-making power and access to reliable reproductive health resources. Early this year, HTU introduced Ally in Portuguese and added a new multilingual voice messaging system to support users with low literacy and visual impairment. Ally is an open-source model and has, since its launch, been integrated on partner websites. Ally's potential to scale up and be more accessible and inclusive is currently being explored.

The Ally virtual assistant harnesses the power of AI to answer frequently asked questions, guide users through safe abortion practices, and connect them to local resources. By expanding Ally's reach to multiple platforms, HTU ensures that this vital support is accessible through widely used communication channels, thus maximizing its impact. This AI-driven approach not only democratizes access to SRH information but also aligns with WFD's mission to promote comprehensive healthcare as a fundamental right. Through these innovative efforts, HTU, and by association WFD, is committed to reducing unsafe abortions and enhancing contraceptive awareness, ultimately striving for a world where all women have access to safe, reliable, and personalized reproductive health services. To date, Ally has had over 300,000 conversations across its access points.

Results

Bringing Women First Digital's (WFD) Ally project by howtouseabortionpill.org to life was an ambitious undertaking that required meticulous planning, innovative execution, and resilience in overcoming challenges. Our primary goal was to harness the power of AI to provide accessible, reliable, and discreet reproductive health information to women worldwide, focusing particularly on safe abortion practices.

Our action plan involved several key steps:

1. We conducted extensive research to understand the gaps in reproductive health information and services, particularly in regions where abortion is restricted.
2. Collaborating with tech experts, we developed an AI-powered virtual assistant capable of understanding and responding to a wide range of user queries related to abortion and reproductive health.
3. We integrated Ally with widely used platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Facebok Messenger, and our website HowToUseAbortionPill.org. This multi-platform strategy was rolled out phase-wise and was aimed to maximize accessibility and user convenience.
4. To cater to a global audience, we ensured Ally could communicate in multiple languages, starting with English, French, and Hindi and later expanding to Spanish, Swahili, Portuguese with plans to add more languages over time.
5. Given the sensitive nature of abortion, we prioritized user privacy and designed Ally to provide discreet support.
6. We focused on creating an intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need.

Executing this plan involved several critical steps:

1. We trained Ally using a vast dataset of reproductive health information to ensure accurate and relevant responses. This included FAQs, safety guidelines, and local abortion laws.
2. Before the full launch, we conducted pilot tests in selected regions to gather feedback and refine Ally’s functionality. This phase was crucial in identifying potential issues and making necessary adjustments.
3. We officially launched Ally on World Health Day, 2020, leveraging the event to maximize visibility. Our outreach strategy included partnerships with local health organizations, influencer collaborations and social media campaigns to spread the word.

Ally boasts several unique features:

1. Ally provides instant, automated responses backed by AI to user queries about abortions with pills.
2. It connects users to local resources and legal information, ensuring they have access to necessary support by giving them access to country-wise information on howtouseabortionpill.org
3. Ally’s ability to communicate in 6 languages enhances its accessibility.
4. Designed with user privacy in mind, Ally ensures all interactions remain confidential.

Throughout the development and launch of Ally, we faced and overcame several challenges:

1. Ensuring the AI’s accuracy was challenging. We addressed this by continuously updating Ally’s database and incorporating user feedback to improve its responses.
2. Creating culturally sensitive content that resonates with diverse users was crucial. We collaborated with local experts to tailor Ally’s information appropriately.
3. Reaching women in regions with limited internet access was a significant challenge. We mitigated this by making Ally available on widely used platforms like WhatsApp, which requires minimal data.
4. Navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding abortion information required careful planning. We ensured Ally’s content was compliant with local laws and regulations.

Media