AI in Maternal Health Care

This article is written by a master student and reflects their individual perspectives and opinions. It does not constitute an official representation of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute. The content provided here is for educational and informational purposes only, and readers should be aware that it does not necessarily align with the official position of the institute. Readers are encouraged to independently verify information and seek guidance from appropriate academic authorities when necessary. The authors bear full responsibility for the content presented in this blog and any potential consequences resulting from it.

This article was written by Yanyan Huang. Yanyan is currently a master student of the International Human Rights Law programme at Lund University. She graduated from Macau University of Science and Technology with a bachelor’s degree. Her fields of interest include disability law as well as women’s rights.

 

 

In the digital age, technological strides have reshaped the contours of our world, including health care. A paramount area that demands our concentration is maternal health. Approximately 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth according to the most recent data in Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2020 report. The convergence of AI technology and healthcare is ushering in a new era of possibilities. From AI predictive analytics to telemedicine platforms, innovative solutions are reshaping the way we approach maternal health care. It’s not only a medical concern, but also intricately tied to the purview of international human rights law.

The Implementation of AI in Maternal Health Care

Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. There’re attempts of specific AI applications in maternal care in different scenarios. For example, Fergus et al. presented the use of Electrohysterography, a method analyzing uterine electrical signals, for predicting term and preterm delivery in early pregnancy. The study demonstrates that the algorithms provide a line of enquiry when separating term and preterm delivery records which would improve the accuracy of maternal care. In other cases, AI-powered telemedicine is improving healthcare accessibility, especially in regions with limited resources. In relation with mobile health (mHealth) which means the use of mobile phones and other wireless technology in medical care, Anggraeni and Fatoni explored the detection of anemias early in pregnancy to reduce cases of postpartum hemorrhage. The study contributes to build a non-invasive self-care anemia diagnosis system by using a smartphone camera to monitor the color of the eyelid. Li et al. also showcases an Internet of Things (IoT) platform incorporating wearable technology, cloud computing and various other innovations for maternal care.

There are potential benefits of incorporating AI in maternal care. For access to health care in areas with limited resources with lower cost or making up for the shortcomings of traditional maternity monitoring devices as stated above. Simultaneously, it is also crucial to maintain a balance between technological innovation and ethical considerations, especially within the context of international human rights law.

Human Rights in Maternal Health Care

The essence of maternal care is not only a medical duty but also an unwavering commitment to upholding the inherent human rights and dignity of every individual related.

According to international human rights instruments such as International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), etc. AI-based health care systems contribute to the realization of the right to health by expanding access to more accurate diagnose. Enhancements in the accessibility of high-quality medical services can be considered a reinforcement of the right to life. By detecting diseases in an earlier state, it would also improve living standards and quality of life which is in accordance with right to adequate standard of living. The use of efficient technology in areas with limited resources is consistent with the principle of non-discrimination. The security of health data is required to be ensured which is adhere to the right to privacy. It is clear that the integration of AI in maternal care should align with international human rights instruments.

Nevertheless, the delicate balance is required between technological advancements and ethical considerations in the context of maternal health. As a recently introduced tool, the utilization of AI lacks accountability. Even when potential harm is identified, ensuring responsibility for the parties involved can be challenging. For example, challenges may arise for ensuring principles of autonomy and informed consent as well as decision-making in the context of AI applications in maternal care. Not only potential biases in algorithms may occur, the risk of a new and destructive crime may under concern if the technology was not properly used. It can be seen that one aspect of the predominant challenges confronting the gap in legal and human rights issues of AI stem from inadequacies in policy and legal frameworks, technical capabilities, and multi-stakeholder involvement.

Therefore, it’s important to establish rights-based approaches align with multiple remedies across international human rights law, emphasizing equality and non-discrimination in the development and deployment of AI technologies.

Conclusion

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for reduction of the global maternal mortality ratio by 2030. Limited access to appropriate health care and professionals together with other social and economic barriers limit the provision of comprehensive care to maternity and children, thereby impacting the fulfillment of their human rights. The emergence of AI tools in maternal care is a noteworthy trend in the digital age, warranting attention and alignment with international human rights law.

Sources:

Trends in maternal mortality 2000 to 2020: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023.

Khan M, Khurshid M, Vatsa M, Singh R, Duggal M, Singh K. On AI Approaches for Promoting Maternal and Neonatal Health in Low Resource Settings: A Review. Front Public Health. 2022;10:880034. Published 2022 Sep 30. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.880034.

Raso, Filippo, Hannah Hilligoss, Vivek Krishnamurthy, Christopher Bavitz, and Kim Levin. 2018. Artificial Intelligence & Human Rights: Opportunities & Risks. Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society Research Publication.

Fergus P, Cheung P, Hussain A, Al-Jumeily D, Dobbins C, et al. (2013) Prediction of Preterm Deliveries from EHG Signals Using Machine Learning. PLOS ONE 8(10): e77154. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077154.

Anggraeni M, Fatoni A. Non-invasive self-care anemia detection during pregnancy using a smartphone camera. IOP Conf Ser. (2017) 172:012030. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/172/1/012030.

Xiaoqing Li, Yu Lu, Xianghua Fu, Yingjian Qi, Building the Internet of Things platform for smart maternal healthcare services with wearable devices and cloud computing, Future Generation Computer Systems, Volume 118, 2021, Pages 282-296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2021.01.016.

Rowena Rodrigues, Legal and human rights issues of AI: Gaps, challenges and vulnerabilities,

Journal of Responsible Technology, Volume 4, 2020, 100005, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrt.2020.100005.

https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/sdg-target-3-1-maternal-mortality

UN General Assembly, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, A/RES/70/1, 21 October 2015.

Featured Image: by Glitch Lab App on Unsplash

Share with your friends
Scroll to top