Breaking Language Barriers in Maternal Care.
Language barriers should never prevent parents from accessing quality maternal care. Yet for many in the UK, especially in Greater Manchester, a lack of resources in their preferred language creates real challenges. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce new language options in the Anya app. With personalised, multilingual support, parents can access trusted information on pregnancy and parenting in the language they feel most comfortable with. This marks an important step in our mission to break down language barriers and make maternal care more inclusive.
The Need for Language Inclusivity in Maternal Care
Over 4 million people in the UK speak a language other than English as their primary language, according to the Office for National Statistics. For many of these families, finding reliable maternal care resources in their language adds unnecessary stress to an already demanding journey. “Is Anya available in other languages?” is one of the most common questions we hear from our users. We’re excited to answer with a resounding “Yes!”—starting with Arabic, and more languages to follow.
Providing personalised support in key languages helps parents feel more empowered. When families can connect with information that feels natural and accessible, they gain confidence in making decisions for themselves and their babies.
Ensuring Cultural and Linguistic Accuracy with Expert Partnerships
Creating accurate translations requires more than just converting words. It’s about ensuring cultural relevance and resonance with users. To make sure we got it right, we partnered with Wolfestone, a specialist in cultural and linguistic translation. They helped ensure our content is both accurate and meaningful. While some articles remain in English for now, we’re already planning to expand translations based on user and partner feedback.
Choosing the Right Languages to Serve Our Users
Choosing which languages to offer first was a thoughtful process. We considered feedback from users and healthcare professionals, UK population data, and factors like socioeconomic status and digital poverty risk. Digital poverty isn’t just about owning a smartphone—it’s also about having the skills, confidence, and connectivity to use digital tools effectively. By prioritising Arabic, Urdu, and Bengali, we’re addressing the needs of key user communities and helping to reduce digital inequalities.
Enhancing User Experience with Language-Specific Features
The Anya app now adapts to a user’s device language settings, switching to Arabic if it’s set as the device language, or English otherwise. Users can also manually choose their language from the settings menu. Currently, select features—including the core UX/UI, animation subtitles, and 12 essential articles—support multiple languages. While the AI feature and additional content remain in English, these updates represent an exciting step forward. Our user-focused approach ensures 24/7 evidence-based support tailored to each user’s preferences.
Expanding Language Offerings for Greater Access
Arabic is just the beginning. In the coming months, we’ll introduce Bengali, Farsi, and Urdu to reach more linguistic communities. This expansion aligns with our commitment to equity of access and reducing health inequalities. By continuing to invest in language accessibility, we’re working to support parents who have historically faced barriers in maternal care.
How Language Accessibility Makes a Difference for Families
Accessing resources in a familiar language provides reassurance for new and expecting parents. One Salford parent, who speaks English as a second language, shared: “Even though it lasts 30 minutes only, it gives me more information than attending other online classes that last two hours.” This feedback highlights how clear, accessible information can foster trust and confidence. At Anya, we aim to create a future where families feel connected and empowered through culturally relevant support. By meeting families’ language needs, we’re helping parents focus on what matters most—their baby’s health and happiness.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Language Support and Breaking Down Barriers
This is just the beginning. As we roll out our first multilingual features, we’re already planning to expand language offerings and translate additional resources. This will ensure Anya grows alongside our diverse user community, keeping maternal care inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Conclusion
We’re proud to share the progress we’ve made in making Anya more inclusive and accessible. With language options now in place, we’re one step closer to breaking down barriers in maternal care. We invite our users to explore these new features and share feedback as we continue this journey. Together, we can make maternal care truly universal.
