Open AccessA Framework for Femtech: Guiding Principles for Developing Digital Reproductive Health Tools in the United States
Author(s) -
Tamar Krishnamurti,
Mehret Birru Talabi,
Lisa S. Callegari,
Traci M. Kazmerski,
Sonya Borrero
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
jmir. journal of medical internet research/journal of medical internet research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.446
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1439-4456
pISSN - 1438-8871
DOI - 10.2196/36338
Subject(s) - health equity , digital health , public health , public relations , software deployment , health care , health technology , white paper , equity (law) , ehealth , business , economic growth , political science , medicine , nursing , computer science , economics , law , operating system
The United States has abysmal reproductive health indices that, in part, reflect stark inequities experienced by people of color and those with preexisting medical conditions. The growth of “femtech,” or technology-based solutions to women’s health issues, in the public and private sectors is promising, yet these solutions are often geared toward health-literate, socioeconomically privileged, and/or relatively healthy white cis-women. In this viewpoint, we propose a set of guiding principles for building technologies that proactively identify and address these critical gaps in health care for people from socially and economically marginalized populations that are capable of pregnancy, as well as people with serious chronic medical conditions. These guiding principles require that such technologies: (1) include community stakeholders in the design, development, and deployment of the technology; (2) are grounded in person-centered frameworks; and (3) address health disparities as a strategy to advance health equity and improve health outcomes.