Dr. Elizabeth Oseku Highlights Importance of AI in MSRH at AfricAI Conference

Dr. Elizabeth Oseku took the stage at the AfricAI conference on June 14, 2023, to deliver a compelling oral presentation titled “What Does AI for Maternal, Sexual Reproductive Health Mean to You?”. Her presentation, which focused on stakeholder perspectives, shed light on the value of community engagement as a means to developing responsible AI innovations. During her session, Dr. Oseku presented preliminary results from the HASH qualitative study titled, “Exploring the Perceptions of Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Outcomes in Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa – A Qualitative study.”

The study was investigating the perceptions of health workers, policymakers, AI researchers and implementers, as well as general population, on the opportunities, risks, limitations, and best practices for responsible AI in MSRH in SSA. In this session, preliminary results of the perceptions of the general population were presented. The results revealed that the general population desires education so that they can improve their understanding of Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, with enough knowledge and exposure, they are willing and able to engage effectively about the subject of AI for health. The participants emphasised issues of transparency and maintaining a human in the loop as key factors that determine trust in AI innovations.

The study was still ongoing and after final analysis, complete research findings will be written up and disseminated widely. The findings highlight the need for and value of community engagement as a means of inclusivity in building acceptable and sustainable AI innovations. The presentation resonated strongly with attendees, and sparked great discussion and debate surrounding responsible and open AI ecosystems in Africa.

For those interested in delving deeper into the discourse sparked by Dr. Oseku’s presentation and other notable discussions at the AfricAI conference, a recording titled “Advancing Responsible and Open AI Ecosystems in Africa: Reflections from AfricAI Conference”.