Women’s Perspectives on the Use of Menstrual Tracking Apps in Kashmir

Abstract

Abstract Health and well-being mobile applications, or mHealth apps, have gained popularity with the spread of smartphones and high-speed mobile internet in India. These apps are used for self-monitoring of health attributes, including tracking fitness, diet, sleep patterns, heart rate, etc. Among these apps, fertility apps have gained prominence for reproductive health tracking. This paper explores the usage and experience of these fertility apps, such as Flo, Maya, and Period Calendar. It seeks to understand the motives for use of these apps and presents women’s perspectives on the role of such apps in their everyday lives. The study was conducted using qualitative telephonic interviews with 30 women in the Kashmir region in India. The study showed that women in Kashmir linked the use of these apps to various motives; these motives included easy menstruation and ovulation tracking, monitoring of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and reproductive health, and PCOS/PCOD detection. Using these apps, women stated that they were able to plan their schedules around menstrual cycles, gain knowledge of various symptoms, and follow up with medical professionals. There was frequent recommendation of these apps to other women, female friends, and relatives. By understanding the goals and experiences of the women who use these apps, healthcare professionals and policymakers can more effectively design interventions and support systems to support women's reproductive health and general wellbeing.