Page 200 - AI for Good-Innovate for Impact Final Report 2024

AI for Good-Innovate for Impact

equipment and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) might be limited. The smartphone app
would be readily available for use during routine newborn checkups.

Problem: Neonatal asphyxia can lead to devastating consequences like brain damage, cerebral
palsy, and even death. Early detection is crucial for prompt interventions such as oxygen therapy
or therapeutic hypothermia, which can significantly improve a newborn's prognosis. However,
traditional detection methods have limitations (i) Clinical signs like weak muscle tone or slow
breathing can be subjective and depend on the healthcare provider's experience and training,
and (ii) Pulse oximeters, the standard tool for measuring blood oxygen levels, might not be
readily available in all settings, hindering timely diagnosis.

Benefits of AI Solution: Smartphones are ubiquitous, making this solution readily deployable
even in resource-limited settings. This democratizes access to a potentially life-saving tool. AI
algorithms can analyze a newborn's cry recordings for subtle changes indicative of asphyxia,
offering a more objective and potentially more accurate assessment compared to subjective
clinical signs.

Drawbacks of AI Solutions: The accuracy of AI models hinges on the quality and quantity of data
used to train them. Continuous improvement and data collection are essential. This solution
relies on a functional smartphone and potentially internet access for updates. Addressing these
potential barriers is crucial for broader adoption.

Conclusion: Smartphone-based AI for neonatal asphyxia detection has the potential to
democratize access to critical care, particularly in low-resource settings. While limitations exist,
continuous research and development can refine accuracy, address accessibility concerns, and
ultimately improve the lives of newborns worldwide.

UN Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Justification UN Goals selection: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being)targets a significant
reduction in preventable newborn deaths. Neonatal asphyxia is a major contributor to such
deaths. By enabling early detection and intervention, this AI technology can improve survival
rates for newborns who experience oxygen deprivation during birth. On the other hand,
early detection and treatment of asphyxia can significantly improve the health outcomes of
newborns. This directly supports SDG Goal 3's focus on ensuring healthy lives and promoting
well-being at all ages. Early intervention can prevent serious health complications like brain
damage and cerebral palsy that asphyxia can cause. The use of AI technology in neonatal care
represents an innovative approach to improving healthcare. This also aligns with SDG Goal 3's
focus on promoting research and development for improved health outcomes. This research
paves the way for utilizing new technologies to address critical health challenges. In summary,
this use case directly contributes to achieving SDG Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being by
focusing on early detection of a significant health risk for newborns, improving overall health
outcomes, promoting equitable access to healthcare, and utilizing innovative technology to
address a critical health concern.

46�2�2 Future work

Data collection, Model development Elaborate proposal: If the submitted use case has been
awarded the scholarship and resources, the future direction of this research work will focus on

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