Artificial Intelligence and Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH): A Survey of Experiences in Latin America and the Caribbeanesponsible Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technical Document 4

12 June 2024

According to data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), most interventions in sexual and reproductive health are cost-effective. Reducing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, preventing HIV and STI infections, providing affordable contraceptive methods, and offering sexual health counseling are sustainable, low-cost interventions. If investments in sexual and reproductive health services in developing countries are increased and sustained, huge benefits can be achieved. For instance, family planning enables women to reach higher levels of education and creates a better balance between family and work. Prenatal care and obstetric services protect the health of the mother and child. Comprehensive Sexual Education is a fundamental resource for empowering young people to make informed and responsible decisions and avoiding unintended pregnancies and STIs. The convergence between the health sector and technology allows leveraging innovative and cost-effective platforms to strengthen local and global capacities, maximizing many of the above mentioned interventions. In recent years, the exponential growth of digital data, the implementation of health information systems, increased computing capacity, and advances in programming and coding artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have driven digital transformation initiatives. AI offers various applications, including machine learning, natural language processing, understanding and generation, speech analysis, conversational virtual agents (chatbots), robotics, and many other tools. These tools can overcome certain limitations by providing efficient and accessible healthcare and contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in health. However, as mentioned in CLIAS's Technical Document 1, the development of AI in the health sector is still at an exploratory stage in the region, meaning that the criteria for a truly integrated ecosystem have not yet been met. This creates challenges in integrating and implementing strategies to cover priority health needs and strengthen health access. This document aims to survey and analyze the applications of artificial intelligence tools in sexual health, reproductive health, and maternal health in Latin America and the Caribbean through an exploratory literature review. The relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare domain and ethics is a topic of growing interest and debate. AI is defined as the field of study and development of systems and technologies capable of simulating human intelligence to carry out complex tasks autonomously.

Authors:

• Martin Saban
• Denise Zavala
• Analía López
• Santiago Esteban
• Adolfo Rubinstein
• Cintia Cejas

Download PDF | DOI: https://doi.org/10.48060/tghn.138