Jacaranda Health is optimistic about the potential of our platforms to advance family planning outcomes in the years ahead. Our work through PROMPTS, our AI-enabled, SMS-based digital health tool, has given us deep insight into patient behaviors, and patient pregnancy and reproductive health journeys from millions of mothers. Our studies show that information can drive change, but on its own, it isn’t enough. As we look ahead, our priority is to use our data to strengthen approaches that impact individual decision-making and the health systems that serve mothers.

PPFP messaging on PROMPTS 

Currently, all mothers on PROMPTS receive six messages on PPFP during the postpartum period. These messages cover the benefits of spacing births, modern contraceptive methods, and a reminder that fertility can return soon after childbirth. We have experimented with sending additional messages and introducing AI-enabled FP counselling into PROMPTS. 

What we know 

Family planning decision-making in Kenya is complex, shaped by social norms, partner dynamics, access to services, and the quality of interactions within the health system. Our role is to equip mothers with clear, trustworthy information they can use to make informed choices for themselves and their families. While our current focus is on the demand side, we are increasingly excited about how PROMPTS data can illuminate the system-level gaps that influence those choices. These insights will help us work with government and partners to strengthen the broader ecosystem that enables women to access and use family planning services. Here is what we know so far:

1) Trusted information helps more mothers start using family planning. Our first randomized control trial (RCT) showed that mothers who received PROMPTS messages were almost twice as likely to start using PPFP as those who didn’t. Our most recent trial of 5000 mothers also showed that PROMPTS users had higher PPFP uptake than the general population. 

2) Engagement increases knowledge and intent and engagement may be the lever. Our most recent RCT showed that PROMPTS + additional PPFP content didn’t lift overall uptake, but mothers exposed to the enhanced content had higher LAM knowledge (note: LAM info was shared widely, not only via personalization) and stronger intention to continue FP. Mothers who engaged with the personalized flow (i.e., answered and asked more questions) were more likely to adopt PPFP. This indicates that smarter personalization is promising if it drives engagement, though we can’t attribute causality.

3) Both demand and supply barriers stand in the way of increased uptake, with demand-side barriers dominant. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with mothers revealed that while some mothers faced stockouts or limited counseling, most barriers were still demand-side, such as myths about side effects, partner opposition, and “haven’t resumed sex yet”.

4) PROMPTS offers behavioral and systems insights that few others can. We have data from millions of mothers – we have the ability to show how FP decisions and behavior vary by time, geography, and system readiness (e.g., availability of commodities, provider knowledge of methods). PROMPTS is a feedback engine as much as it is an intervention. 

What the findings tell us and where they leave us wondering

Taken together, the results from both RCTs show that information works, personalization helps, and engagement may be the key to really unlock impact. 

These findings leave us thinking about a few important questions.

• Could different message timing, tone, or delivery formats (i.e., voice) lift engagement enough to move uptake/continuation metrics?
• Can personalization address deeper, more complex demand-side barriers like fear of side effects, partner opposition, or cultural norms?
• How can we turn PROMPTS’ behavioral insights into systems readiness?

These findings and questions are guiding our next phase of work to further move the needle on family planning rates in Kenya and beyond.

Where we think we can make the most impact 

1) Expand into new geographies. PROMPTS on its own increases use of family planning. As we expand into new markets like Ghana and Nigeria, where postpartum family planning rates are lower and information gaps wider, we believe PROMPTS can make a significant impact as it stands.

2) Continue experimenting on PROMPTS on demand and engagement. PROMPTS is a huge asset for testing what changes PPFP uptake at scale. Because we reach so many mothers and offer two-way, continuous communication, it acts as a live environment to experiment and learn. This allows us to answer practical questions like which messages improve engagement, how different timing or tone affects uptake, or how interactivity supports continuation.

3) Refine personalization and interactivity. We’re already building PROMPTS 2.0, a faster, cheaper, and more personalized tool designed to reach more diverse demographics of mothers. With PPFP, these upgrades will allow PROMPTS to move beyond static content toward interactive, adaptive communication: voice-based flows for lower-literacy mothers, personalized counseling conversations, and short check-ins for those who have started family planning to support continuation and to address discontinuation. Check out this FP coach demo to get a better idea of what we are planning for this. 

4) Strengthen provider readiness through DELTA. As we extend DELTA’s digital training to cover the full continuum of care, family planning will become a stronger part of provider learning. We could include digital modules on postpartum FP counseling, breastfeeding safety, and method switching, and pairing them with video-based skills content that complements hands-on certification.

5) Connect demand to systems readiness. PROMPTS data can already show us where women want to use contraception methods but face barriers like stockouts or poor counseling. By sharing this information with supply-side partners like the Ministry of Health (county and national), PS Kenya, Marie Stopes, and UNFPA, and feeding insights into county-level dashboards, we can help direct resources where demand is highest and systems are least prepared. Optional: we could also explore referral models, starting small, by linking mothers to “known FP facilities”, and later building toward integrations with partners who track commodity availability in near real time (e.g., InSupply or LMIS systems).

PROMPTS has already impacted PPFP uptake and strengthened women’s knowledge. The next step is building on that success by expanding reach, deepening personalization, and linking mothers’ demand to responsive health systems.