Not Everyone Googles in English: Expanding Digital Inclusion and Equity in SRH

Imagine needing urgent health information—about contraception, pregnancy, or your body—only to find it locked behind a language you don’t speak or buried in dense medical jargon. For millions seeking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information online, this isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a daily barrier to care. Even when resources exist, they remain inaccessible due to language limitations, complex terminology, and rigid digital tools that fail to meet people where they are.

Digital platforms have the potential to bridge this gap, but only if designed with real users in mind. It’s not enough to simply put SRH content online—it must be multilingual, culturally adapted, and free from alienating medicalized language. When people can access information in the language they think, speak, and feel in, they are more likely to trust and act on it. Moreover, accessibility must extend to diverse abilities, ensuring that those with visual or hearing impairments can engage with SRH content through screen readers, captions, and sign language integration.

Health literacy isn’t just about knowing how to use technology—it’s about making sense of the information available. If SRH content is only offered in dominant languages or packed with technical terms, digital literacy alone won’t close the gap. A young woman in a rural area searching for abortion information might find a website, but if it’s only in English and full of phrases like “sublingual administration of misoprostol” instead of simply saying, “placing pills under the tongue to safely end a pregnancy,” she may struggle to understand or trust what she finds.

The solution isn’t just translation—it’s adaptation. True accessibility means reshaping content to reflect cultural and linguistic nuances. It also means embracing diverse formats. Not everyone learns best by reading long articles; voice-based tools can reach those with lower literacy levels, messaging apps can deliver concise answers, and interactive chatbots can make SRH topics more engaging. A one-size-fits-all approach leaves too many behind.

Additionally, misinformation is a major challenge in digital SRH content. Accessible platforms must also prioritize credibility, ensuring that users receive accurate, evidence-based information while countering myths and misconceptions that often spread online. Partnering with trusted local organizations, healthcare professionals, and community leaders can enhance both trust and reach. Digital literacy programs should be integrated into SRH initiatives to empower users with the skills to critically assess information sources.

Even when language barriers are addressed, the way information is presented matters. Many digital health platforms rely on rigid, clinical language that makes SRH topics feel intimidating, especially for younger audiences or those with limited formal education. Information should feel like a conversation, not a textbook—clear, relatable, and designed for real people navigating real decisions. Storytelling, real-life testimonials, and interactive Q&A formats can humanize SRH content and make it more approachable.

The best digital health tools don’t dictate how people should access information—they adapt to how people actually seek it. This requires co-creating content with the communities it aims to serve, ensuring SRH resources are multilingual, culturally relevant, and available across different digital channels. Whether through chatbots, social media, SMS, or voice-based platforms, accessibility means offering options that match diverse learning styles and communication preferences.

SRH information shouldn’t be a puzzle. If digital tools are to drive real change, they must be built with people at the center—removing barriers, not creating new ones. Information isn’t empowerment if it’s out of reach, too complex to understand, or impossible to trust. True access means breaking down walls and ensuring everyone, regardless of language, literacy level, or ability, can make informed choices about their health.

Written by Sneha Sukumar Nair, Partnerships Coordinator at WFD. Prior to this position, she worked as the Global Communications Officer at howtouseabortionpill.org, a WFD-powered eHealth resource.