Role of Emerging Digital Health Technologies for Sexual and Reproductive Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, over 800 women die every day in pregnancy and childbirth; violence against women remains devastatingly pervasive, affecting 1 in 3 women in their lifetime, and depression rates are twice that of men. The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are quickly disrupted when health systems are under pressure, which is dangerous and disempowering. Therefore, access to contraception, safe abortion to the maximum extent permitted by law, STI prevention and recovery, care and assistance for abuse survivors, and self-care interventions should all be prioritized in countries' responses. The WHO advances SRH through digital health interventions (DHIs), using tools such as mobile apps, SMS, and telehealth to expand access to services, support self-care, and provide information. These initiatives focus on improving the quality of care, supporting health workers, and ensuring equitable access to services.

The field of digital health and its essential role in addressing barriers to access and provision of SRH services has gained traction over the years. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the significance of this area of work.

Some key aspects of digital SRH interventions include digital adaptation kits (DAKs), which transform guidelines into actionable, user-friendly digital tools for family planning. Besides, there are tools for self-care and empowerment through self-monitoring (blood pressure), HIV self-testing support, and access to contraceptive information, which ensures privacy and autonomy. Through the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025, the WHO works to strengthen health systems by integrating digital tools in various contexts. These digital tools can also be used to target specific age groups, such as adolescents, for sexual health education, sharing information on contraceptive services, maternal health, and combating stigma in sexual health services.

Emerging digital health technologies, including AI-driven apps, telemedicine, and wearable devices, are revolutionizing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) by improving access, providing personalized care, and reducing stigma. These technologies facilitate remote contraception counseling, abortion care, fertility monitoring, and STI testing, especially for underserved or young populations. There are various technological platforms such as Telehealth & E-health (e.g., providing confidential access to online STI testing and consultations for contraception), Mobile Health & Apps (for menstrual tracking, fertility awareness, and pregnancy), and “smart bra” technology for breast cancer screening. Besides, AI and Machine learning are critical for analyzing datasets for predictive, person-centered care and for powering chatbots that provide instant, accurate SRH information, thereby reducing misinformation. These digital tools, often referred to as “FemTech,” help overcome geographic, social, and behavioral barriers, connect users with care, and reduce stigma. Thus, these DHIs are transforming SRH by allowing for proactive, self-managed care through various platforms, thereby improving access, and are also geared towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.

This call aims to receive papers addressing a range of digital health innovations and technologies to address gaps in SRH care and services. We seek to publish research conducted worldwide in these two domains: digital health technology and SRH. We invite original research, systematic reviews, reviews/minireviews, perspectives, commentaries, and Case studies that address the central theme of the role of Emerging Digital Health Technologies for Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Digital Health, Technology, Digital Innovations, Women, Adolescents, Access, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Telehealth, Telemedicine, mHealth, Mobile Health, Abortion, Contraception, HIV Testing, SDG-3

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.