AI Boosts Women's Health Globally

AI holds a transformative potential for enhancing global well-being, with a special focus on women's health. Historically, women's health has been hindered by systemic challenges such as limited funding and research, which have resulted in inadequate treatment options and access to care. We envision a future where AI can break down these barriers, empowering women to lead in both solutions and research. When women drive innovation, solutions tailored for women tend to emerge. Moreover, ensuring equitable access to healthcare innovations can spark breakthroughs that benefit people worldwide.

This is why Google Research has been diligently working on AI tools designed to improve care and access for women globally. In celebration of International Women's Day, we're excited to highlight a few pioneering projects.

Enhancing Access to Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC)

Globally, a woman dies every two minutes from childbirth-related complications, with 70% of these tragic cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these deaths are preventable, and long travel times to healthcare facilities contribute to poor maternal outcomes. AI can play a crucial role in improving access to emergency obstetric care. We're using AI to map out access to obstetric care more effectively, helping our partners ensure that women can reach health services when they need them.

In 2022, we teamed up with the OnTime Consortium in Nigeria to create a tool that calculates the average travel time to the nearest, second nearest, and third nearest EmOC facilities across different regions. Our partner, the OnTIME Consortium, has been instrumental in implementing this on the ground in Benin City. Local decision-makers are now using our dashboard to pinpoint areas with poor geographic access to EmOC. They're conducting visual inspections to understand the reasons behind this, such as potholes, roads in disrepair, commuter behavior, or the absence of EmOC-trained clinicians at local facilities. By combining this data with the lived experiences of locals, they're able to make informed, tailored recommendations. The team is now looking to expand this initiative beyond Nigeria.

Maternal (Prenatal) Ultrasounds

Ultrasound is a vital tool for monitoring the health of a pregnancy and the developing fetus. However, many parts of the world suffer from a shortage of ultrasound technicians. We're developing AI technology to simplify the process of performing and interpreting ultrasounds for healthcare providers who aren't trained sonographers. This could significantly increase access to ultrasound services worldwide. In 2023, our Research teams in the U.S. and Africa collaborated with Jacaranda Health in Kenya to further this research in several maternity hospitals. Since our study began in January, hundreds of women have taken part, helping us refine and advance our AI system.

Breast Cancer Ultrasounds

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer worldwide, and early detection is crucial. Mammograms are the standard for screening, but they're not accessible to everyone due to cost and are less effective in women with denser breasts. Ultrasound, often used as a supplementary imaging method in breast cancer diagnosis, could serve as an effective primary detection tool. Google has partnered with Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan to develop AI models that could enhance early detection of breast cancer using ultrasound. In 2023, we initiated a groundbreaking prospective study to analyze de-identified ultrasound, mammogram, and other biomarkers from participants. The aim is to develop AI models that can screen for breast cancer using ultrasound imaging. So far, the early results look promising.

Our efforts build upon the work of others to advance women's health, including the U.S. government's first-ever initiative on women's health research. With increasing attention and investment, we're hopeful that 2024 will be a pivotal year for women's health and for women everywhere.