Designing Stigma-Mitigating Digital Health Interventions: The Case of Menstrual Health Literacy
Journal
ICIS 2025 TREOS
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2025-12
Author(s)
Abstract
Menstrual health remains critically under-researched despite its relevance to nearly half of the global population (Hennegan et al., 2021; Nißen et al., 2024). Menstrual health related disorders such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea (affecting up to 90% of adolescents and young women) are highly prevalent, yet the average diagnostic delay for endometriosis remains 7–10 years (De Corte et al., 2025; Iacovides et al., 2015). These delays diminish quality of life and reinforce the normalization of menstrual pain. A key contributing factor is insufficient menstrual health literacy defined as the ability to access, understand, and apply menstrual health information to manage symptoms, seek care, and make informed decisions (Hennegan
et al., 2021).
At the same time, stigma exacerbates these challenges. Stigma discourages open communication, undermines health literacy, and creates barriers to the adoption and sustained use of validated health solutions (Castro & Mang, 2024; Corrigan, 2004; De Corte et al., 2025; Hennegan et al., 2021; Manga et al., 2025; Olson et al., 2022). The effects extend into workplaces, where menstrual and menopausal health issues are associated with absenteeism, presenteeism, and inequities (Schoep et al., 2019). Digital health technologies such as menstrual tracking apps could strengthen literacy by making information more accessible, supporting self-management, and legitimizing stigmatized experiences (Ponzo et al., 2022). Yet current designs fall short: users frequently prioritize self tracking over literacy features, while validated content competes with misinformation (Olson et al., 2022; Sou et al., 2025). The result is a persistent gap between knowledge availability and its translation into sustained action (Tumescheit et al., 2025).
This TREO paper positions (menstrual) health literacy and stigma as central design considerations for IS research. We call for IS researchers to address stigma directly as a design and engagement challenge. We outline three research avenues: (1) how stigma-mitigating designs can normalize discussion of sensitive health topics, (2) how IS can reduce stigma-related barriers to adopting and sustaining validated digital health solutions, and (3) how IS can support the translation of awareness and literacy into behavioral engagement with validated resources. By positioning menstrual health as an illustrative case, we argue that IS scholarship can advance stigma-mitigating digital health interventions that strengthen literacy, foster adoption, and reduce inequities, and finally, demonstrating the organizational and societal relevance of IS design.
et al., 2021).
At the same time, stigma exacerbates these challenges. Stigma discourages open communication, undermines health literacy, and creates barriers to the adoption and sustained use of validated health solutions (Castro & Mang, 2024; Corrigan, 2004; De Corte et al., 2025; Hennegan et al., 2021; Manga et al., 2025; Olson et al., 2022). The effects extend into workplaces, where menstrual and menopausal health issues are associated with absenteeism, presenteeism, and inequities (Schoep et al., 2019). Digital health technologies such as menstrual tracking apps could strengthen literacy by making information more accessible, supporting self-management, and legitimizing stigmatized experiences (Ponzo et al., 2022). Yet current designs fall short: users frequently prioritize self tracking over literacy features, while validated content competes with misinformation (Olson et al., 2022; Sou et al., 2025). The result is a persistent gap between knowledge availability and its translation into sustained action (Tumescheit et al., 2025).
This TREO paper positions (menstrual) health literacy and stigma as central design considerations for IS research. We call for IS researchers to address stigma directly as a design and engagement challenge. We outline three research avenues: (1) how stigma-mitigating designs can normalize discussion of sensitive health topics, (2) how IS can reduce stigma-related barriers to adopting and sustaining validated digital health solutions, and (3) how IS can support the translation of awareness and literacy into behavioral engagement with validated resources. By positioning menstrual health as an illustrative case, we argue that IS scholarship can advance stigma-mitigating digital health interventions that strengthen literacy, foster adoption, and reduce inequities, and finally, demonstrating the organizational and societal relevance of IS design.
Publisher
AIS Electronic Library
Event Title
ICIS 2025 TREOS
Event Location
Nashville, USA
Event Date
14.12.25 - 17.12.25
Official URL