AI Is Transforming Maternal Care In Villages
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing maternal and child healthcare in isolated areas of Africa, providing creative solutions to the problems faced by underserved populations. In Africa, where maternal mortality rates are still critically high because of limited healthcare access, AI-driven technologies are helping to fill the void.
One notable advancement is BabyChecker, a portable ultrasound device powered by AI, created by Delft Imaging, a social enterprise based in the Netherlands. Introduced at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, BabyChecker marks a notable advancement in maternal healthcare.
This device is tailored for low- and middle-income nations, offering a budget-friendly and efficient means of early pregnancy risk identification.
The portable device includes a smartphone, an ultrasound probe, a mobile application, and a user guide.
Unlike traditional ultrasound machines, which necessitate trained personnel, BabyChecker utilizes AI to interpret ultrasound images.
Akshay Rajagopal, the BabyChecker Project Manager at Delft Imaging, clarifies that this technology evaluates obstetric ultrasound scans to determine gestational age and identify high-risk pregnancies, such as fetal malposition, placenta previa, and multiple pregnancies.
Delft Imaging has a rich history in screening solutions, beginning in the early 1900s when it introduced X-ray screening for tuberculosis (TB) in the Netherlands.
Over the years, Delft Imaging evolved into digital health solutions, integrating AI to create more portable and efficient screening tools for diseases like TB and complications related to maternal health.
BabyChecker focuses on communities with limited healthcare access, where maternal and child deaths are prevalent.
“With a long-standing tradition of providing solutions for diseases in remote villages, we conceptualized BabyChecker to tackle the significant maternal mortality that preventive timely interventions could easily address,” Akshay noted.
Although Delft Imaging has operated in over 85 countries, BabyChecker has been implemented in more than 10 countries in partnership with technical advisors, funders, and local organizations to incorporate AI into maternal healthcare.
BabyChecker has seen successful pilot projects and commercialization in various regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Latin America, and Pakistan.
This technology is meant for community health workers and consists of an ultrasound probe linked to a mobile phone using the BabyChecker app.
Once the scan is completed, AI processes the ultrasound images in just five seconds, delivering essential insights.
Yellow indicates potential complications that are not life-threatening, while red indicates a high-risk pregnancy that necessitates immediate referral to protect both mother and child. “The scan outcomes dictate the pregnancy care; for instance, when the scan shows yellow, the pregnant woman should see the hospital within two weeks for follow-up and management,” the expert elaborated.
The traffic light system can be tailored to different national health protocols, ensuring its applicability across diverse countries. Akshay mentioned that the application would soon feature additional risk parameters.
Currently, in many remote regions, community health workers perform scans using only their hands, frequently resulting in inaccurate outcomes, delayed referrals, and a heightened risk of mortality.
Akshay highlighted that BabyChecker is crafted for rural and remote environments, requiring neither internet connectivity nor electricity, making it ideal for low-resource settings where maternal mortality rates are still unacceptably high. “By providing community health workers with AI-powered screening tools, we can greatly lower maternal mortality,” he emphasized.
In Kenya, approximately 6,000 to 8,000 women lose their lives during childbirth each year, with prevalent causes including obstetric hemorrhaging, indirect maternal complications, and hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy. When fully charged, the app can perform 30 to 50 scans.
