More African Languages Needed in Menstruation Apps

More African Languages Needed in Menstruation Apps

Since its emergence in 2016, the femtech industry, which focuses on technological solutions for female health, has steadily gained momentum worldwide, drawing increasing investment. However, in Africa, this sector is still in its early stages. This segment highlights the work of innovators, their challenges, and the growth of the femtech landscape on the continent.

Uteroo, a South African menstruation app, began as a personal project for software developer Pabi Moloi. She started building the app in 2016 after encountering several menstruation trackers, most of which were created by non-Africans. Initially, Moloi had no intention of releasing it to the public. “It was just a way to keep myself busy,” she shares.

In many African societies, menstruation is not just a biological process but also a source of shame and mental health challenges, further exacerbating social inequalities. Discussions about menstruation often remain veiled in secrecy, using euphemisms like “Aunt Flo,” “Time of the Month,” or even derogatory terms like “Dirty” or “Untouchable.”

Moloi decided to take Uteroo beyond a personal side project because of the need to break this silence. In August of the previous year, during National Women’s Month, she launched the app on the Play Store, and it has since received positive feedback, including unexpected support from her male friends. The app has also opened up conversations about menstruation with her mother, who had previously avoided discussing the topic.

So far, Uteroo has been downloaded over 120 times, with 58 active users. It is now available on the Huawei app store, and an iOS version is expected next year.

Uteroo is similar to many menstruation trackers developed in the West, offering features to track menstruation cycles and predict ovulation, helping users avoid accidental stains and potential embarrassment. Moloi plans to introduce additional features, including a medical review board to ensure the app’s information is accurate and trustworthy.

One of Moloi’s key goals is to make Uteroo multilingual. South Africa alone has at least 30 indigenous languages, with 11 officially recognized. However, most apps in Africa are developed in English or other widely spoken languages, which can alienate potential users who are more comfortable with their native languages. For example, a 2018 survey in South Africa revealed that only 8% of people speak English at home, with Afrikaans being the most common language used.

Although many femtech solutions in Africa focus on providing discreet access to reproductive health products and information, addressing the cultural taboos surrounding menstruation, expanding language options could make a significant difference in reaching more women and girls. Femtech platforms like Uteroo, FemConnect (which connects girls to free menstrual products), and Kasha (an e-commerce platform) are all working to fill this gap, but incorporating local languages could further enhance accessibility.

Moloi acknowledges that making Uteroo multilingual would be a major challenge, but she believes it is necessary. “We understand things better in our own languages,” she says.

In addition to plans for a multilingual version, Moloi registered Uteroo as a company this year and is focused on expanding the app’s impact across Africa. “I want to see how people interact with the app in their everyday lives so it truly feels like it’s made for them,” she adds.

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