For this reason, their organization seeks to improve early detection through alliances with health institutions and companies. For example, they have an agreement with Novartis to bring mammograms to Chiapas, one of the states with the least equipment for this test.
At Pro Mujer they also have the Support and Counseling Program to educate and raise awareness among women about breast cancer. They do this through an audio novel, which translates technical terms for easy understanding, addresses real and everyday cases, and is available in some native languages.
The initiative has also been operating since 2021 with four chatbots: one for breast cancer, another for diabetes mellitussexual and reproductive health, and one more on menstrual health and menopause. They also design another for mental health.
Chatbots operate with specialized health advisors who follow up with women. They first encourage them to have mammograms, help them understand the results of the study and, if any abnormalities are identified, connect them with health care providers or refer them to the public health system.
The support does not end there: they also give them advice on what documentation to bring, where to go and what to do to continue with the treatment.
“We refer them to a second level of care and the same chatbot advisor can provide support so that, if you have IMSS, ISSSTE or anyone, you can have a more fluid process and there is no loss of time between appointments so that they can provide you with care,” explains Jiménez.
(Photo: Pro Mujer)
He details that, until now, these chatbots are the so-called “rigid” ones. That is, they work with a predetermined flow of questions and answers in order to control that the information provided is verified and true, he emphasizes.
But for the development of their fifth chatbot, the mental health one, they are considering reinforcing the functions with Artificial Intelligence.
So far, the breast cancer chatbot has reached 74,000 women from 12 countries.
“It allows us not to have to be physically there, but to be present for them at any time of the day, at any time, and we can derive and resolve specific responses.”
