Despite rapid advances in technology and medical sciences, maternal health remains a major concern in several developing nations, and data suggest that the current global maternal mortality rate (MMR) is estimated at 197 deaths per 100,000 births. Furthermore, when we focus on MMR, 90% of maternal deaths occur in low and lower-income countries.
But with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), many health professionals are now using this technology to help save lives and perform critical care for millions of expecting mothers across the world.
One such case is that of Maryam Mustafa, a computer scientist, who recently developed an AI app called Awaaz-e-Sehat (Voice of Health) to support expectant mothers in Pakistan. The app works on basic smartphones to help doctors spot patients requiring immediate medical attention in busy Pakistani clinics.
The app asks simple, step-by-step questions in local languages, guiding doctors to spot danger signs like high blood pressure, low iron, or diabetes during quick patient visits. According to Maryam, the idea came to her when she visited a health clinic in Pakistan and observed the dire state of medical services in her country: the clinic’s waiting area doubled as an exam room, several women were impatiently waiting in line, and doctors were overworked, barely managing to spare 2-3 minutes for each patient.
As per Maryam, for many pregnant women in Pakistan, this brief visit might be their only checkup before giving birth. As per reports, Mustafa and her team developed this app to support expectant mothers in Pakistan and to save their lives.
How AI assisted ‘Aawaz-a-Sehat’ app works:
The app asks simple, step-by-step questions in local languages, guiding doctors to spot danger signs like high blood pressure, low iron, or diabetes during quick patient visits.
It records the patient’s answers instantly and highlights any risks, making it easier for doctors to give better care, even in places with few resources.
It also uses voice messages on WhatsApp. It lets pregnant women answer important health questions in their language before going to the doctor. The process creates a basic medical record and makes sure serious symptoms aren’t overlooked.
TAlthough the app is still undergoing testing, its results are already promising. Maryam Mustafa and her team see that it’s much better at spotting warning signs of risky pregnancy conditions than doctors in regular clinics.
For instance, early tests show that doctors in typical setups catch signs of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure only 7% of the time, while the app catches them 40% of the time, making it way more accurate and helpful.
For Mustafa, her job isn’t just about making an app; it’s about using tech to make sure more moms survive giving birth, more babies are born healthy, and fewer deaths happen from things that could be stopped.
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