Project
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Sakhi
A menstrual awareness and Tracking Solution
The Sakhi project was born out of a deeply troubling incident where a young girl in Thane, Mumbai, lost her life after her brother, misunderstanding her first period, tragically took her life. This incident prompted us to explore the critical need for better awareness and education around menstruation. In collaboration with a friend, we developed a combined physical and digital solution featuring chatbot integration to enhance user experience and make menstrual tracking and education more accessible and intuitive.
Info
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Role
Product Designer
Timeline
02 Months
Collaborators
Utkarsh Verma, Ishita Kohli
Tools
Figma
Rhino 3D
Blender
Overview
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Problem
In a market full of menstruation-tracking apps, the subject of periods remains taboo in India. Despite widespread smartphone access and affordable 5G, the question is: Why are we still falling short?
Outcome
This project introduces an AI-powered app and bangle-inspired menstruation tracker to educate and empower women, particularly in rural areas, by simplifying menstrual health awareness and reducing stigma.
Solution
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Final Design & Solution
The Sakhi solution includes a screenless bracelet and app designed to raise menstrual awareness among rural Indian women. The bracelet, inspired by the Indian Bangle, tracks cycles with minimal input, while the app refines this data using machine learning, analyzes cycles, and allows data sharing with healthcare providers. An integrated AI chatbot provides guidance and answers user queries.
Features of Sakhi Bangle
A
Stainless steel body with PVD coating for durability
B
Flexibility in locking system to ensure one size fits all
C
LED lights to depict what stage of menstrual cycle one is at
D
Sensors to minimize manual data input on application
1. Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor
2. Infrared temperature sensor
3. Bioimpedance sensors
Feature 001
Localized Language Support and Easy Wearable Set Up
The application offers local language support for all 22 official languages of India, ensuring inclusivity of diverse linguistic communities, and provides a step-by-step setup for easy pairing of the bangle with the app for seamless tracking.
Feature 002
Seamless Onboarding with Sakhi Chatbot and Step-by-Step Guidance
The application introduces the Sakhi chatbot at the start of the onboarding process, guiding users through a step-by-step setup to input menstrual cycle information and begin tracking with ease and efficiency.
Feature 003
Intuitive Tracking and Analysis with Easy Sharing
The application features a simple, user-friendly interface for tracking data from the bangle, with the option to manually override inputs. It also provides detailed cycle analysis and alerts (including concerning patterns or changes), allowing users to easily share this information with healthcare professionals.
Feature 004
Customization and Personalization
Given the diverse user base with varying reasons for tracking, age groups, requirements, and schedules, the application provides a range of features to customize the user experience according to individual preferences.
Setting Expectation
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What is this project and what to expect
My goal with this project was to delve into the intersection of healthcare and technology, aiming to create a tech-driven intervention that can genuinely benefit the masses. I sought to enhance my user research, visual design, interaction design, and prototyping skills while exploring how AI can drive meaningful solutions and impact a broader audience.
01
Passion
Project
This is a personal project to develop and improve my skills and build something that I truly believe might aid the masses. There are no metrics or outcomes beyond my personal growth.
02
Trying New Things & Refining Skills
I also wanted to work on this project to try new things. My goal was to getting an understanding of how we might leverage AI to reach out to a broader audience and ease the process of health tracking.
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Inaugural Step in Generating Awareness
I also wanted to work on this project to try new things. My goal was to getting an understanding of how we might leverage AI to reach out to a broader audience and ease the process of health tracking.
Why the Topic
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Breaking the Silence: Menstruation Myths and the Urban-Rural Divide in India
Instances and practices listed below are a common affair in India and the main reason behind this is the lack of awareness in the public. Having conversations regarding menstruation is increasingly becoming a more common feature amongst working women in first-tier cities. However, this is a fairly recent development in urban sectors. In rural parts of India, it still remains a rarely discussed taboo topic.
The Indian Express
09 May, 2023
A 12-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her brother over suspicion of her having an affair with someone
A 30-year-old security guard has been arrested for allegedly killing his 12-year-old sister over suspicion that she had got physical with someone. Police sources said it was a misunderstanding as the girl had reached menarche - the first time that a girl menstruates - but the brother thought she had got physical with someone.
Pari Network
08 Nov, 2023
Periods of Hell in Bhamragad
The Madia tribe forces menstruating women into "Kurma Ghars," or period huts, due to beliefs in menstrual impurity. These huts lack basic amenities, leading to discomfort and health risks. Superstitions further isolate women, restricting their interactions and even the storage of sanitary products.
Uncovering Issues
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User research - findings & insights
Although urban women in middle and higher classes show some awareness, those in lower classes remain hesitant to discuss menstruation openly. In rural areas, this issue is even more pronounced, with women across all socio-economic backgrounds avoiding the topic entirely. To understand these attitudes and their impact, we also reviewed several articles and research papers.
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Why this mindset exists
Lack of education in schools and thus health awareness.
Taboo and myths associated with menstruation
Inadequate resources for awareness - apps suck, government schemes not the best
Economic constraints
Low Tech savviness
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How it affects the lives of these women
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Other Facts and Figures
61% of schools lack dedicated curriculum on reproductive health and 78% of teachers feel uncomfortable discussing menstruation in class.
Source : Das et al 2015
28% of urban women and 12% of rural women use apps or other methods to track their cycles.
Source : Indian Institute of Public Health
The User
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The many personas and their needs
Based on the primary and secondary research, it became evident that the requirements of users were diverse, with variations in user behavior and needs from different socio-economic backgrounds.
User personas were created and empathy mapping was carried out to better understand the intended user, and acknowledge their requirements.
Common frustrations
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02
Inconsistent Tracking
Users struggle with unreliable predictions and tracking, which causes stress and a sense of loss of control over their cycles
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Time Constraints
All users face time management challenges, balancing personal and professional responsibility, making it hard to consistently log data
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Difficulty Sharing Information
There is frustration around the inability to easily share tracking info with health-care providers, which require manual summaries
Common needs
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02
Support for Irregular Cycles
The need for advanced cycle prediction is highlighted, especially for those with irregular cycles, to help manage symptoms effectively
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Health Insights
A desire for actionable insights related to menstrual health, including tips on symptoms and connections to overall health
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Cultural Sensitivity
Respect for cultural contexts and languages is important to all users, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive content and communication
Who are we designing for
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Targeted User Group
Considering the greatest need for menstrual health awareness in rural areas, our targeted user group aligns with User Persona 01 - Maya Das
Some other approaches
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Alternative Approaches and Key Insights for Addressing the Issue
Before jumping to a digital solution, we first sought to understand whether it was truly necessary or the most effective approach to addressing the issue. Extensive research was conducted to explore the various efforts already being made to improve menstrual health awareness in India by several key players, including government programs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, academic institutions, and activist groups. Their efforts included :
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Community Workshops and Training
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Distribution of Educational Materials
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School-Based Programs
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Digital Initiatives
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Engagement with community Leaders
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Improving Access to Menstrual Products
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Women's Health Camps
A Digital Intervention
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Is there truly any merit in addressing the issue digitally?
Despite these ongoing efforts, cases of violence, ostracization, and discrimination related to menstruation persist in India. But given the rapid growth of the digital market, even in rural areas, we explored why a digital intervention could be a more effective approach.
Anonymity
Individuals feel comfortable seeking such information anonymously, especially in cultures where menstruation is considered taboo
Cost-Effectiveness
Information and resources can be shared at a relatively low cost compared to traditional methods such as in-person workshops
Scalability
Solutions can be easily scaled up to reach larger populations as needed
Customization
Customization of content and resources to suit the specific needs and preferences of different demographics
Interactivity
Features such as quizzes, videos, and forums can engage users and facilitate a more dynamic learning experience
Data Analysis
Data collection and analysis inform ongoing improvements of menstrual health awareness initiatives by gathering insights on user engagement.
Other Digital Approaches
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Evaluating the Digital Landscape of Menstruation Tracking
Building on this concept, it was crucial to explore the current digital landscape surrounding menstruation tracking and the various user experiences and solutions available. To support this research, I conducted a heuristic evaluation and followed it with a SWOT analysis of several well-known tracking tools in the market.
This analysis included examining both mobile-based applications and wearable devices, such as Period Calendar Period Tracker; Flo Period & Pregnancy Tracker; Clue Period Tracker & Calendar and wearable technologies like Fitbit Sense, Apple Watch, Ava Bracelet and the Oura Ring.
01
Cultural Nuances are not considered
02
Not Affordable as these applications and wearables are usually highly priced
03
Complicated interaction and interfaces for population that is not tech savvy.
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Overload of information for a population that is unaware of basics of menstruation
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Lack discreetness. This includes effeminate logos and interfaces in applications and large non discreet wearables.
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Lack focus to create basic awareness in a society where menstruation remains a taboo topic
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Existing apps may not offer content in local languages which is especially an important feature to consider in a country with over 22 languages.
