Revolutionizing Maternal Health: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Care and Accessibility

Cureus. 2024 Sep 16;16(9):e69555. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69555. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Maternal health remains a critical global health challenge, with disparities in access to care and quality of services contributing to high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for addressing these challenges by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, improving patient monitoring, and expanding access to care. This review explores the transformative role of AI in maternal healthcare, focusing on its applications in the early detection of pregnancy complications, personalized care, and remote monitoring through AI-driven technologies. AI tools such as predictive analytics and machine learning can help identify at-risk pregnancies and guide timely interventions, reducing preventable maternal and neonatal complications. Additionally, AI-enabled telemedicine and virtual assistants are bridging healthcare gaps, particularly in underserved and rural areas, improving accessibility for women who might otherwise face barriers to quality maternal care. Despite the potential benefits, challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the need for human oversight must be carefully addressed. The review also discusses future research directions, including expanding AI applications in maternal health globally and the need for ethical frameworks to guide its integration. AI holds the potential to revolutionize maternal healthcare by enhancing both care quality and accessibility, offering a pathway to safer, more equitable maternal outcomes.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; healthcare accessibility; maternal health; predictive analytics; pregnancy complications; telemedicine.

Publication types

  • Review