Flo Health has set new ground in digital health interventions with the first comprehensive study to demonstrate that period-tracking applications can significantly improve women’s health knowledge and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. The research, published in BMJ Public Health, provides unprecedented evidence that mobile health applications can serve as practical tools for addressing global health disparities on a large scale.
The longitudinal study represents a breakthrough in digital health research methodology and scope. Unlike previous evaluations of mobile health interventions that have been limited to small, short-term pilot studies typically focusing on adolescent populations, Flo Health’s research involved 6,165 adult women across 52 countries over periods extending up to 12 months.
Breaking New Ground in Digital Health Research
The study employed an innovative research design that combined pre-post longitudinal analysis with repeated cross-sectional methodology to overcome the high attrition rates typically found in digital health studies. This approach allowed researchers to demonstrate both individual user improvements over time and population-level differences between new users and those with extended app exposure.
Flo Health’s research team developed novel assessment tools, including a comprehensive menstrual health and hygiene knowledge quiz created in collaboration with external scientific advisors. The quiz addressed critical knowledge areas where gaps had been identified globally, covering topics from typical menstrual bleeding patterns to fertility windows and best practices for menstrual hygiene maintenance.
The study’s mediation analysis represents another methodological innovation, quantifying how improvements in health knowledge directly translate to better psychosocial, menstrual, and quality of life outcomes. This analysis revealed that between 23% and 66% of observed health improvements could be attributed specifically to enhanced menstrual health knowledge, establishing a clear causal pathway.
Addressing Unprecedented Scale and Scope
Through its Pass It On Project, Flo Health has demonstrated how digital platforms can reach populations that traditional healthcare systems struggle to serve. The initiative provides free premium access to Android users across 66 countries, targeting regions where formal health education coverage ranges widely from 1% to 90% by country, often with outdated or incomplete curricula.
The research documented the global nature of menstrual health knowledge deficits. Even among adult women, participants correctly answered only 3.4 out of 10 basic knowledge questions on average. The study found that 62% of participants either did not know or incorrectly specified the typical duration of a standard fertile window. In comparison, 38% could not accurately identify when unprotected sex would most likely result in pregnancy.
Evidence-Based Educational Innovation
Flo Health’s approach to content delivery represents a significant innovation in health education. The award-winning companyoffers a comprehensive library of evidence-based educational content, developed by doctors and health scientists, and drawing on peer-reviewed sources and guidelines from internationally recognized health organizations. All educational material undergoes rigorous peer review before publication within the app.
The platform facilitates engagement through various interactive features, including personalized health tips, reminders, and chatbots offering daily health advice. These features aim to enhance users’ knowledge of their menstrual health and guide informed decision-making. The app also allows users to participate anonymously in community polls, providing a platform to engage with others on sexual health and menstrual experiences while reducing associated stigma.
Measurable Health Outcomes
The study documented comprehensive improvements across multiple health indicators. Women who used Flo’s premium features for three or more months showed an 18.7% increase in menstrual health knowledge scores. Additional improvements included enhanced menstrual health awareness (9.0%), increased awareness of sexually transmitted infections (1.7% to 3.1%), and improved quality of life scores (1.8% to 3.5%).
Perhaps most significantly, the research demonstrated reductions in menstrual stigma (an 8.1% decrease) and the impact of menstruation on daily life (a 6.7% decrease). These findings suggest that digital health interventions can address not only knowledge gaps but also the social and psychological barriers that prevent effective menstrual health management.
Flo Health’s pioneering research establishes mobile applications as legitimate tools for improving global health outcomes, providing a scalable model for addressing persistent health disparities in underserved populations worldwide. The company’s success, reflected in its substantial funding andwidespread adoption, demonstrates how digital health solutions can achieve both commercial success and meaningful social impact.
The organization continues to engage with its global communityto gather feedback and improve its educational offerings, ensuring that its evidence-based approach remains responsive to user needs and emerging health challenges.
