ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ANTENATAL CARE: PERCEPTIONS, POTENTIALS, AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSES AND MIDWIVES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare is revolutionizing patient care and decision-making globally. However, its adoption in antenatal care (ANC) within low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria remains limited and underexplored, particularly among frontline maternal care providers. This study investigates the perceptions, perceived potentials, and ethical implications of AI technologies in antenatal care among nurses and midwives in selected health facilities in Northern Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires to collect data from 150 nurses and midwives across primary and secondary healthcare settings in Katsina and Kaduna States. The study explored their understanding of AI applications such as clinical decision support systems (CDSS), electronic fetal monitoring, AI-powered ultrasound tools, and mobile-based risk prediction tools. The ethical dimensions of privacy, autonomy, and accountability were also examined. Preliminary findings reveal moderate awareness of AI among the respondents, with strong optimism about its potential to improve maternal risk prediction and care efficiency. However, concerns were raised over ethical issues, including patient data security, algorithm transparency, and the potential erosion of nurse-patient relational care. The study therefore, underscores the urgent need for targeted digital health training, ethical frameworks, and inclusive policy development to prepare maternal health workers for an AI-driven future. It recommends capacity-building initiatives and locally adaptable AI solutions that enhance, rather than replace, the critical human elements of antenatal care.