Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizes Maternal Care in Malawi by Reducing Infant Mortality Rates In a remarkable achievement, Area 25 health centre in Lilongwe, Malawi, has seen an 82% reduction in stillbirths and neonatal deaths since the introduction of AI-enabled foetal monitoring software. The technology tracks a baby’s vital signs during labour, detecting abnormalities that would not have been identified through traditional methods. This breakthrough offers several benefits over traditional methods: Continuous, real-time monitoring, Less time and equipment required, Fewer skilled staff needed.
In Malawi, approximately 19 out of every 1,000 babies die during delivery or within the first month of life. Birth asphyxia is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in the country and can result in brain damage, long-term effects including developmental delays, and cerebral palsy.
Area 25 health centre in Lilongwe, Malawi, has implemented AI-enabled foetal monitoring software to track a baby’s vital signs during labour. This technology was donated by PeriGen through a partnership with the Malawi health ministry and Texas children’s hospital.
Since the introduction of this technology three years ago, Area 25 health centre has seen an 82% reduction in stillbirths and neonatal deaths.
Ellen Kaphamtengo was a high-risk patient who underwent AI-enabled foetal monitoring. The software detected abnormalities in her baby’s heart rate, which would not have been identified through traditional methods. A stress test confirmed that the baby would not survive labour if delivered naturally.
Chikondi Chiweza, head of maternal care at Area 25 health centre, credits the AI-enabled foetal monitoring software for saving lives: “The foetal monitoring programme has been a game-changer for deliveries at our hospital.” This technology offers several benefits over traditional methods:
Continuous, real-time monitoring
Less time and equipment required
Fewer skilled staff needed
The doctors at Area 25 health centre hope to see the introduction of this technology in other hospitals across Malawi and Africa.
In a remarkable achievement, the only hospital in Malawi using foetal safety software has seen a significant drop in stillbirths and neonatal deaths. According to reports, the number of fatalities has decreased by 82% in just three years.
The AI monitoring system has several advantages over traditional methods:
It requires less time, equipment, and skilled staff.
It reduces the risk of missing critical information during intervals between checks.
It minimizes the chance of error in interpreting raw data from various devices.
Doctors at Area 25 hope to see the technology introduced in other hospitals across Malawi and Africa. “AI technology is being used in many fields, and saving babies’ lives should not be an exception,” says Chiweza. “It can really bridge the gap in the quality of care that underserved populations can access.”
Ellen Kaphamtengo, a new mother who gave birth to her son Justice with the help of AI monitoring, expresses her gratitude for the technology. “They were able to discover that my baby was distressed early enough to act,” she says. “I believe their interventions may have saved my baby’s life.”
The success of AI monitoring in reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths serves as a reminder of the potential benefits of this technology. As Jeffrey Wilkinson, an obstetrician with Texas children’s hospital, notes, “You can prevent most deaths by making sure the baby is safe during the delivery process.”
