AskAway
We are addressing the significant barrier to sexual and reproductive health information and support faced by young individuals, especially adolescent girls and young women, in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The crux of the issue lies in limited access to accurate SRHR information, the pervasive stigma associated with seeking such knowledge, and the lack of confidential avenues to obtain support.
According to the 2022 State of World Population report by UNFPA, in countries where data is available, nearly a quarter of all women cannot refuse sex, almost the same number are unable to make independent health care decisions, and nearly 10% can't make informed decisions about contraception. This culminates in a startling statistic: almost half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended. The ripple effects of these statistics not only impact the immediate well-being of these women but also have long-term socio-economic consequences.
In many LMICs, socio-cultural norms, coupled with inadequate healthcare infrastructure and lack of education, play a significant role in this crisis. Additionally, the fear of judgment, societal repercussions, and breaches of confidentiality discourage young women and girls from seeking essential SRHR care. Our solution, AskAway, directly addresses these challenges by providing a discreet, judgment-free platform, embedded within popular messaging apps, where users can obtain vital SRHR information, support, and services.
Globally, the number of young individuals affected by this is staggering, with millions lacking access to the necessary SRHR resources. The repercussions of this are multi-faceted: unwanted pregnancies, higher maternal and infant mortality rates, spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and the perpetuation of gender inequalities.
AskAway's mission is to bridge this informational and support gap, ensuring that every young individual, regardless of their socio-economic or cultural background, can make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
Our solution is "AskAway," a conversational AI integrated into popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger. At its core, AskAway is designed to provide real-time, tailored SRHR information and support to young individuals, particularly in LMICs.
Here's how it works:
User Interaction: A user starts a conversation with AskAway on WhatsApp or Messenger, just as they would with a friend. They can pose queries, seek advice, or even share concerns related to SRHR.
AI-Driven Responses: Leveraging advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP), AskAway understands the user's questions and provides immediate, accurate, and culturally-sensitive answers.
Comprehensive SRHR Database: Behind the scenes, AskAway accesses a curated database inspired by UNFPA's extensive SRHR data, ensuring that the information provided is both reliable and up-to-date.
Clinic & Service Locator: Users can inquire about local SRHR clinics and services. AskAway, using geolocation, can guide them to the nearest and most appropriate facilities.
SRHR Commodity Marketplace: Within the chat interface, users can explore essential SRHR commodities and even place orders, with options for discreet delivery to ensure user privacy.
Privacy and Anonymity: Recognizing the sensitive nature of SRHR queries, AskAway is designed to prioritize user privacy. All interactions are confidential, and no personal identifying data is stored.
Feedback & Improvement: Users have the option to rate and provide feedback on the information they receive. This continuous feedback loop ensures that AskAway remains updated and aligned with user needs.
Technologically, AskAway harnesses the power of advanced AI algorithms, ensuring quick and precise information retrieval. By seamlessly integrating into widely-used messaging platforms, it ensures maximum accessibility without the need for additional app installations.
Video Demo: https://drive.google.com/file/...
AskAway primarily serves young individuals in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), with a special emphasis on adolescent girls and young women. These groups are among the most marginalized when it comes to accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services.
Target Population Characteristics:
- Age: Primarily youth, ranging from adolescence to early adulthood.
- Gender: While AskAway is for everyone, it particularly focuses on girls and young women, given the heightened barriers they face in accessing SRHR services.
- Socio-Economic Background: Predominantly from LMICs where there's limited access to reliable SRHR resources and where socio-cultural norms often inhibit open discussion on these topics.
Current Challenges:
- Lack of Information: Due to limited education and stigma, many are unaware of their rights or the SRHR resources available to them.
- Societal Stigma: In many cultures, discussing sexual and reproductive health is taboo, preventing young people, especially girls and young women, from seeking the information they need.
- Privacy Concerns: Fear of judgment or repercussions often deters individuals from seeking advice or visiting clinics.
Impact of AskAway:
- Instant Access to Information: AskAway provides real-time responses to SRHR queries, allowing users to make informed decisions about their health.
- Confidentiality: By integrating into commonly used messaging platforms, users can discreetly access information without the fear of judgment or societal backlash.
- Empowerment: Armed with accurate knowledge, young individuals can make autonomous decisions about their SRHR, breaking cycles of misinformation and dependency.
- Resource Locator: AskAway's ability to guide users to local clinics and SRHR services ensures that they can transition from knowledge to action.
- Enhanced Participation: By fostering a space for open dialogue, AskAway encourages young individuals to be active agents of change within their communities, discussing and promoting SRHR topics that were once considered taboo.
In essence, AskAway serves as a lifeline for those who have been traditionally underserved in the realm of SRHR. It not only provides information but empowers users with the confidence and tools to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health.
Our team, spearheaded by Dhruthi Kuram, is uniquely positioned to deliver the AskAway solution because we're not just developers of the platform; we're empathetic representatives of the challenges and concerns faced by the target communities.
Dhruthi's personal journey is a testament to the unforeseen challenges young women can face, especially in LMICs like India. As an ambitious student, ready to embark on her career path with an MS in Software Engineering from the esteemed San Jose State University in Silicon Valley, her life took an unexpected turn due to an unintended pregnancy. While navigating the challenges of early motherhood, she faced another setback with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing her to return to India and delaying her career aspirations.
Her lived experiences provide an intimate understanding of the gaps in SRHR awareness, resources, and support. It's this personal touch and the firsthand insight into the intricacies of cultural, social, and economic nuances of LMICs that make Dhruthi and our team the right ambassadors for AskAway.
Our team's proximity to the communities we aim to serve is not just geographic or demographic but emotional and experiential. This direct connection ensures that the development and refining of AskAway is always done with the users' genuine needs and concerns at the forefront.
We engage with our communities by organizing regular feedback sessions, user-testing phases, and open forums to gather insights and recommendations. Dhruthi's story and her roots in India facilitate open dialogues with young individuals, especially women, to candidly discuss their SRHR needs, ensuring that AskAway remains tailored, responsive, and compassionate.
Our commitment is further strengthened by our collaboration with local NGOs and SRHR organizations. We work hand-in-hand to understand regional disparities, specific challenges, and cultural sensitivities, ensuring that our platform remains holistic and inclusive.
In essence, our team doesn't just deliver a solution; we provide a platform born out of personal experience, nurtured by continuous community engagement, and driven by a deep-rooted commitment to improve SRHR access and awareness.
- Prioritize infrastructure centered around young people to enhance young people’s access to SRH information, commodities and services.
- India
- Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model, but which is not yet serving anyone
AskAway has transitioned from a mere concept to a tangible prototype through a series of development and testing phases. Here's a detailed breakdown of our journey so far:
Initial Development: AskAway's core conversational AI framework has been developed. It is capable of understanding user queries, processing them, and delivering accurate SRHR information in real-time.
Integration with Messaging Platforms: We've successfully integrated the AI with popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger, ensuring that the platform is accessible to a wide user base without the need for downloading any additional apps.
Database Creation: We have curated a comprehensive database derived from reputable SRHR sources. This database acts as the knowledge backbone for the AI, ensuring that responses are accurate, up-to-date, and reliable.
Beta Testing: We initiated a closed beta testing phase with a selected group of young individuals from diverse backgrounds, especially targeting those from LMICs. Feedback from this phase was invaluable in refining response accuracy, improving user interface, and understanding the nuances of cultural and regional SRHR queries.
Collaboration with Local Experts: In our quest to make the prototype culturally sensitive, we collaborated with SRHR experts from various LMICs to fine-tune the database and ensure the AI's responses resonate with the specific needs and realities of different regions.
Privacy and Security Protocols: Given the sensitive nature of SRHR queries, we have implemented robust encryption and data privacy measures to ensure that user interactions remain confidential and secure.
Feedback Loop: Even within our prototype stage, we've incorporated a feedback mechanism, allowing users to rate and comment on the responses. This continuous feedback loop ensures that the AI is always learning and improving.
User Analytics: We've integrated an analytics system to track the types of questions being asked, the frequency of certain topics, and user demographics. This helps us identify trends, gaps, and areas of focus for further refinement.
To further substantiate our progress, we have documented user testimonials from our beta testing phase, demonstrating the impact and potential of AskAway. We also possess a roadmap detailing future enhancements, partnerships, and expansion plans, signifying that AskAway is not just an idea but a well-structured, evolving solution with tangible results and a clear vision for the future.
