The use of artificial intelligence to fight neonatal mortality in Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to examine whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances health service delivery, especially reducing neonatal mortality. This paper is derived from reviewing of various documents including but not limited to journal articles, policy documents, and newspaper articles. I also carried out three key informant interviews, and observation of the mHealth programme in Bwizibera Health Centre IV in Mabarara district. Findings show that new technologies such as the mHealth and telemedicine, which are the simplest form of AI. The study concludes that the impact of e-Health is being manifested in the reduction of healthcare costs and improved efficiency through better retention and retrieval of records, better management of chronic diseases, and shared health professional staffing. However, there are still challenges in adopting such technologies, especially where there is still less effort by the government in offering financial support. The paper recommends that reliable and affordable internet connection, readily available database for AI research and existence of AI labs, reliable and affordable electricity are necessary for incorporating AI in the health system to improve service delivery in the area of infant mortality.