Comparing National Differences in Women's Perception of AI Menstrual Tracking Use in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis (Preprint)

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> AI-enabled menstrual health technologies are expanding globally, yet women’s willingness to adopt them varies across sociocultural contexts. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, specifically Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where digital health is a current national priority, understanding the factors that influence AI acceptance is critical. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study examines how cultural values, privacy concerns, and demographic characteristics shape women’s openness to AI-driven menstrual tracking technologies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> This study used a cross-sectional survey targeting adult women in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, recruited online through convenience sampling. The survey, made available in English and Arabic, assessed women’s openness to using AI health tools, cultural fit, and privacy concerns using 5-point Likert scale items. Domain scores were averaged, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the influence of cultural and privacy perceptions on openness to AI, controlling for demographics. Additional t-tests and ANOVAs assessed group differences. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> The results showed that women who perceived AI health tools as culturally appropriate and aligned with their privacy expectations were significantly more open to using them (β = 0.33). Among demographic groups, homemakers showed higher openness, while other factors like age and education were not significant. Disaggregated analyses revealed that cultural sensitivity and regional specificity were the strongest predictors of AI openness, while general data privacy concerns had a weaker, marginal effect. These findings suggest that cultural alignment and trust are key to promoting AI health technologies in the GCC region, specifically Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Women’s openness to AI menstrual tracking in the GCC, specifically Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, is driven more by cultural alignment and digital trust than by age or education. Culturally sensitive, accessible, and trusted tools that are paired with education, are key to effective adoption and empowering women in managing their reproductive health. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> The study protocol, titled “Women’s Openness to AI-Enabled Menstrual-Health Technologies in the GCC,” was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Kuwait University (Approval No.: KU-CBA-03-07-25). All procedures complied with the ethical standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Participation was voluntary; no identifying information was collected, and all survey data were stored on password-protected servers accessible only to the research team. Prior to starting the online questionnaire, each participant reviewed an electronic information sheet outlining the study purpose, procedures, potential risks/benefits, confidentiality measures, and their right to withdraw at any time. Consent was provided electronically by clicking “I agree,” and participants could discontinue the survey at any point without penalty. </sec>