Artificial intelligence (AI) has been hailed as a revolutionary technology that can significantly enhance the quality of healthcare services. Recent studies have shown that AI can play a crucial role in detecting tumours during routine breast X-rays and colonoscopies, where AI software assists in scanning images.
However, a recent study has highlighted the potential challenges that cultural practices may pose to the effectiveness of maternal health AI solutions. The research focused on data from the DawaMom maternal healthcare app, which caters to expectant mothers in Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Lead researcher Min’enhle Ncube emphasized the importance of incorporating local realities, diverse datasets, and traditional practices into AI solutions to truly improve healthcare in underserved communities. While South Africa has seen improvements in its maternal mortality rate, challenges persist in countries like Zambia due to under-resourced medical facilities and a shortage of skilled healthcare workers.
Maternal AI apps have the potential to reduce mortality rates by providing personalized healthcare guidance to expectant mothers. These apps facilitate home visits to gather critical data such as demographics, medical history, and key health indicators. AI processes this information to identify patient risks and enable early interventions for high-risk conditions.
Despite the potential benefits of AI-driven applications, concerns have been raised about the overlooking of cultural practices. Many new mothers have expressed reservations about the Western-centric solutions provided by AI apps, highlighting the importance of organic and ancestral guidance in traditional African homes.
The study compared digital care, traditional care, and clinical care, finding that the only commonalities were “care at home, face-to-face care, and biomedical health education.” While initiatives like South Africa’s MomConnect have reached millions of users, challenges such as data connectivity issues remain barriers to accessing AI solutions for healthcare.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to address barriers to AI readiness and digital infrastructure access in developing countries during South Africa’s presidency of the G20. Midwife Lilo Mthembu emphasized the importance of human-to-human contact in childbirth, raising questions about the equitable distribution of AI-guided healthcare guidance.
The study identified a critical gap in AI datasets regarding indigenous and traditional maternal health practices, which could marginalize cultural knowledge essential to rural and underserved populations. While AI has shown promise in diagnosing medical conditions and providing personalized solutions, there is still room for development in integrating cultural practices into AI healthcare solutions.
Overall, while AI may not be an immediate solution to healthcare inequality in South Africa, the study suggests that there is potential for further development as the technology continues to evolve. By incorporating diverse datasets and traditional practices, AI has the opportunity to enhance healthcare services and improve outcomes for expectant mothers and their children.
