Kèli

Kèli: Youth-Friendly Contraception & Care

Kèli

Kèli is is a hybrid digital–community platform that expands access to reproductive health services in Côte d’Ivoire.

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

CIV

Not registered as any organization

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In Côte d’Ivoire, menstrual and sexual health are still taboo for many girls and young women. Most grow up in silence around their bodies, with little access to accurate information and nowhere safe to ask questions. By the time they seek reproductive health care, they face judgment, shame, and systemic barriers. Adolescent girls and young women struggle to access care that is safe, confidential, and non-judgmental. Despite growing awareness of contraception, only 18% of women aged 15–49 use modern methods and that number drops to 14% for unmarried, sexually active women aged 15–24. More than 30% of this group has an unmet need for contraception, leading to unintended pregnancies. Nearly 1 in 3 girls becomes a mother before 19. Many avoid clinics due to long waits, lack of privacy, or fear their families will find out. Even when options like self-injectable contraceptives exist, few receive the training or follow-up they need. Most tech-based solutions rely on smartphones and internet excluding those who are most vulnerable. Kèli responds to this gap and recognizes that the issue is not simply availability it’s access, trust, and dignity. Girls and young women need care that meets them where they are, both culturally and technologically.

Kèli is a digital health platform designed to bridge the gap between community care and accessible technology for reproductive health. It empowers adolescent girls and young women in Côte d’Ivoire to access private, judgment-free services — even without internet or smartphones. 1: Self-injectable contraceptive support Through outreach sessions, peer educators provide in-person training on how to safely use Sayana Press, a discreet self-injectable contraceptive. After receiving their first dose under supervision, users are enrolled digitally using their phone number or a unique agent code. They are then supported remotely via: – SMS reminders for reinjection dates – Simple reordering options – A WhatsApp chatbot offering FAQs, step-by-step injection guides, and access to live callback support – A private tool to track doses and monitor side effects. 2: General access (no training required) For users not enrolled in the self-injectable pathway, Kèli provides on-demand services via USSD and WhatsApp: – Ordering emergency contraception, pregnancy tests, or basic hormone tests – Locating nearby youth-friendly clinics using geolocation – Checking medicine availability in local pharmacies – Booking appointments or receiving maternal health alerts – Submitting anonymous ratings or feedback on service quality.

Kèli supports young women between 15 and 35 living in underserved areas of Côte d’Ivoire, mostly in urban and peri-urban settings. Many of them face judgment, silence, or confusion when trying to access reproductive health services especially when it comes to contraception, emergency care, or basic testing. Some are trying self-injection for the first time and need reminders or a safe way to reorder. Others might simply need emergency contraception or a pregnancy test but don’t know where to go. Some are tired of feeling judged at the clinic. Others don’t even own a smartphone. Kèli was designed with all of them in mind. Whether they’re digitally connected or using a basic mobile phone, users can access services that are private, practical, and judgment-free. They can find the nearest clinic, ask a health question, place a quick order, or leave a review to help other girls know where it’s safe. Kèli makes reproductive health easier to find, safer to ask about, and more comfortable to manage, Kèli gives women a way to take care of themselves on their own terms.