Clicking for Change: Redefining Pelvic Health through Social Media

Having parents from Sierra Leone, I have learned a lot about the cultural peculiarities and obstacles faced by Africans, especially in healthcare. For years, I have had a chance to look into my own eyes and see the unfairness that exists in the availability of quality healthcare, particularly for women. It is a fact that has led me to fill the gap and to build my female friends in this region to take the lead in their pelvic health care.

Pelvic health is a culture silencer in many African communities despite the negative cultural stigmas and misconceptions. Women, most of all, usually get neglected by healthcare and encounter obstacles that bring about a situation when females cannot get all the help and assistance they require. This is a very structural issue that cannot be overlooked.

I want to create a space where pelvic health isn't just discussed—it is celebrated. My obligation is not limited to simply raising awareness alone, but also to my practice as a physical therapist. I intend to give women a voice to own the management of their pelvic health, speak for themselves, and demand better care. I want to offer open and user-friendly tools and create an environment characterized by inclusiveness and support to remove the taboo that has for too long concealed pelvic health.

The next goal is to present physically to the community back home in Sierra Leone. I wish to partner with local organizations and health providers that can organize knowledge, screening, and resource sessions targeted towards African women. Elimination of the health discrepancies in pelvic health and helping women to become the almighty decision-makers in their reproductive health will improve the lives of the women and their families.

Ever since I embarked on this mission, I have been guided by two things. The first one is the sense of fulfillment that motivates me to make pelvic health a topic I have seen and heard in African communities. The other is ensuring every woman has the support and resources to thrive. Whether it be women, health care workers, or policymakers, it is now time to rewrite the pelvic health narrative one person at a time.

Author: Bransyl Boston, SPT, 2024 NABPT & APTA Pelvic Health Scholarship Recipient 

Author Bio: Hi! I am Bransyl Boston and I am currently a second-year student at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in the DPT Program. I am Sierra-Leonean American and was raised in Middleburg, Florida. My hobbies include crochet, going on walks, and playing solitaire. Instagram Handle: @bransylb_