Kenyan mothers use AI chatbot to improve pregnancy care
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In Kenya, pregnant women are increasingly turning to PROMPTS, an AI-powered chatbot, to answer questions and address concerns about their health.
Jacaranda Health created PROMPTS after noticing a surge in text message replies to automated appointment reminders sent to patients. Initially, nurses answered these questions individually, but the volume, now around 15,000 messages daily, led developers to create the AI program. PROMPTS operates via SMS, making it accessible even to those without smartphones or reliable internet access.
The system prioritizes questions and flags potentially urgent cases, about 7% of all messages, for immediate review by a nurse. This is particularly important in Kenya, where approximately 6,000 women die annually from complications related to childbirth or pregnancy, and delays in seeking care contribute to nearly a third of these deaths. Healthcare professionals like Lisa Mushega of HENNET, a Kenyan coalition, say PROMPTS helps bridge gaps in care by providing a direct line to health information.
The chatbot understands English, Swahili, and Sheng, a local dialect, and Jacaranda Health is expanding the program to Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Beyond individual care, PROMPTS also gathers data on common concerns, like a correlation between heat waves and dehydration, to help doctors understand community health needs and improve overall care quality.
While acknowledging the potential risks of AI in healthcare, experts emphasize the importance of a strong human oversight component, which PROMPTS maintains with a dedicated team of 18 nurses.
