The paper titled "The Effectiveness of an Artificial Intelligence–Based Gamified Intervention for Improving Maternal Health Outcomes Among Refugees and Underserved Women in Lebanon: Community Interventional Trial" evaluates the impact of an AI-based mHealth intervention on maternal and neonatal health.
Methodology
The study was designed as a community interventional trial involving 19 primary health care centers across Lebanon, serving disadvantaged Lebanese populations and refugees. A total of 3,989 pregnant women were included and distributed between control and intervention group. The GAIN MHI intervention utilized an AI-based gamified platform that sent mobile messages to pregnant women and their spouses, alongside an app for health care providers to track and support care. Information was extracted from medical charts covering demographics, obstetric history, and neonatal outcomes. Quantitative surveys were also used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and satisfaction.
Findings
The intervention led to significant improvements in both the uptake of healthcare services and neonatal outcomes:
Antenatal Care Uptake: Women in the intervention group had significantly higher odds of completing ANC visits, undergoing urine analysis, and completing required blood tests compared to the pre-intervention
Screening and Supplements: The odds of having ultrasound screenings were nearly eight times higher in the intervention group, significantly outperforming the control group's improvement.
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: Term deliveries increased from 72.5% to 76.9% in the intervention group. Additionally, there was a 58% increase in the odds of neonates not experiencing any morbidities.
Persistent Barriers: Despite these gains, socioeconomic factors continued to limit the intervention’s impact on specific outcomes like maternal complications and abortion rate.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the GAIN MHI intervention is effective at enhancing the uptake of essential ANC services and improving key health outcomes for vulnerable populations. However, the authors emphasize that technology alone does not address socioeconomic barriers highlighting the importance of integrating mHealth tools into primary health care systems. Offering holistic community support which promotes accessibility and sustainability.
