Solutions from Ukraine: chatbot and hotline launch to support sexual and reproductive health
Photo: masp.com.ua
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, sexual and reproductive health has often been deprioritized, coming in second or even further down the list after security concerns, however, it's crucial that it not be overlooked.
The Women's Health and Family Planning Foundation reported that.
What is the problem?
The full extent of the consequences of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine is currently beyond comprehension. However, it's evident that the war disrupts everyday life, hinders access to medical care, and causes people to neglect self-care and disease prevention.
For instance, during the full-scale war, there has been an increase in the number of women giving birth without prenatal care, particularly among those under 18. Over the past three years, the abortion rate relative to births has risen alarmingly. Additionally, in 2023, there was a sharp increase in both criminal abortions and deaths related to abortions.
In Ukraine, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality, with cervical cancer as the second most common among women aged 30 to 54. Alarmingly, there is an increasing percentage of late-stage diagnoses (stages III-IV) for both breast and cervical cancer.
This is only part of the statistical data that demonstrates the problems and gaps in the field of sexual and reproductive health in Ukraine. Women and girls, men and boys often either do not have access to health services, or hostilities complicate this access. Similarly, the level of awareness about sexual and reproductive health is insufficient.
What is the solution?
To facilitate access to information on sexual and reproductive health and to live consultations with doctors, specialists from the Women's Health and Family Planning Foundation created a chatbot, "Your Plan B," and launched a hotline on sexual and reproductive health issues as well as assistance in cases of gender-based violence.
Photo: Press Service / Women's Health and Family Planning Foundation.
"A chatbot is a way to quickly and in a few clicks find out reliable information about your sexual and reproductive health without violating confidentiality. A chatbot is available anywhere and anytime; the only condition is the presence of the Internet. The chatbot works in tandem with the sexual and reproductive health hotline, which you can contact every day from 10 am to 6 p.m. to learn more about the issues that may concern you," Lesia Khmel, project coordinator, says.
For instance, if air raids or shelling make it challenging to reach a medical facility, or if there's a long wait to see a doctor, women and girls can contact the hotline or use a chatbot. The chatbot is also designed to function during power outages, offering a text version of the information materials for areas with poor connectivity.
How does it work?
The chatbot and hotline aim to increase awareness among Ukrainians about their sexual health. Through these resources, individuals can access information on:
- preventive examinations,
- pregnancy planning and contraception,
- the impact of war on women's and men's health,
- a list of barrier-free gynecological offices in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions,
- algorithms of action in case of sexual and gender-based violence, etc.
Currently, the chatbot consists of sections containing useful instructions: sexual and reproductive health, sexual violence, and lifestyle that affects health. The chatbot also has separate sections with information about the sexual health of women, men, and adolescents.
Photo: Press service / Women's Health and Family Planning Foundation
The chatbot and hotline complement each other. The hotline is available for those who prefer receiving advice from doctors directly. Alternatively, the chatbot answers potential questions about sexual and reproductive health.
The "Your Plan B" chatbot can be accessed here.
Hotline number: 0 800 208 288 (daily from 10:00 to 18:00)
For reference:
It should be noted that the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine documented 376 cases of war-related sexual violence between February 24, 2022, and August 31, 2024.
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