Healthcare Provider Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health Integration in Maternal and Infant Care across Andhra Pradesh, India
Abstract:
Digital health applications are increasingly integrated into maternal and infant healthcare in Andhra Pradesh, India; yet, evidence on how healthcare providers experience this digital health integration into routine workflows, and the extent to which Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled functionalities are used in their everyday practice remains limited. This qualitative study examines healthcare providers’ perceptions of digital health and AI integration, perceived benefits, implementation barriers, and implications for workflow and clinical decision making. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 36 healthcare providers, including Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), Community Health Officers (CHOs) /Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHP), and Medical Officers (MOs), across six purposively selected urban, rural, and tribal districts. Interviews were analysed using directed qualitative content analysis employing a deductive-inductive coding approach. Thematic domains identified in the doctoral research proposal were taken as the initial deductive structure while additional codes were developed inductively from the empirical data. Healthcare providers reported routine use of digital applications for registration, tracking, reporting, risk identification, referral, teleconsultation, and follow-up. Perceived benefits included improved continuity of care, programme monitoring, and timely follow-up. Poor network connectivity, repeated OTP and biometric authentication for registration or ID generation, and limited offline functionality, made regular use challenging, especially in remote areas and tribal areas. The effective integration depends on factors, such as infrastructure, usability, provider capacity, and the particular context of local implementation.References:
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