Unpacking the Interface: The Impact of Design Choices on Users' Relationship with Raaji

Female reproductive health and menstruation are considered social taboos in Pakistan. So much so that in certain cases, it is even prohibited to talk about menstruation, reproductive health, and feminine hygiene. It is crucial to raise awareness and educate women on sensitive topics crucial to their well-being. Modern digital tools like chatbots can play a pivotal role in enhancing women's health in Pakistan. Raaji or Aurat Raaj, a chatbot aiming to raise awareness of reproductive health, particularly menstrual hygiene among Pakistani women, is a notable technological intervention. With its conversational UX design, Raaji serves as a valuable pedagogical tool, addressing barriers to accessing menstrual hygiene information. We analyze the design and usability of Raaji using critical interface analysis. User interface design, dialogue design, and the bot's personality are critically assessed to understand how the interaction shapes users' experience and their relatability with the chatbot. We conducted several interactions with Raaji and gathered the responses to all questions in the form of screenshots. After organizing the screenshots based on the content segments – or sections – of Raaji and modes – such as text-based responses, images, and animation accompanying the responses. Our analysis focuses on the chatbot's role in knowledge-sharing and awareness-raising, examining user-chatbot relationships, chatbot identity, and user autonomy facilitated by Raaji's design choices and affordances.