The role of artificial intelligence in sexual and reproductive health and rights: technical brief
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World Health Organization
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13 p.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights services, offering new opportunities to improve access, quality of care and health system efficiency while raising significant ethical, legal and human rights considerations. This technical brief provides an overview of the current landscape of artificial intelligence applications in sexual and reproductive health and rights, outlining key uses, risks and policy considerations in the context of universal health coverage, persistent inequities and the sensitive and rights-based nature of these services. It aims to support a shared understanding among policy-makers, implementers, developers, researchers and funding agencies working at the intersection of digital health and SRHR, without assessing the effectiveness of specific applications. The document describes the main applications of artificial intelligence across domains such as health information and education, screening and diagnosis, treatment and care management, personal health monitoring, health system management and research. It highlights potential benefits, including enhanced access to information, improved decision-making and increased efficiency, alongside key risks related to data governance, privacy, bias, misinformation, digital exclusion and impacts on bodily autonomy. The brief also outlines policy and operational considerations to promote ethical, inclusive and rights-based use of artificial intelligence, emphasizing data protection, transparency, accountability and multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure safe, equitable and responsible implementation.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights services, offering new opportunities to improve access, quality of care and health system efficiency while raising significant ethical, legal and human rights considerations. This technical brief provides an overview of the current landscape of artificial intelligence applications in sexual and reproductive health and rights, outlining key uses, risks and policy considerations in the context of universal health coverage, persistent inequities and the sensitive and rights-based nature of these services. It aims to support a shared understanding among policy-makers, implementers, developers, researchers and funding agencies working at the intersection of digital health and SRHR, without assessing the effectiveness of specific applications. The document describes the main applications of artificial intelligence across domains such as health information and education, screening and diagnosis, treatment and care management, personal health monitoring, health system management and research. It highlights potential benefits, including enhanced access to information, improved decision-making and increased efficiency, alongside key risks related to data governance, privacy, bias, misinformation, digital exclusion and impacts on bodily autonomy. The brief also outlines policy and operational considerations to promote ethical, inclusive and rights-based use of artificial intelligence, emphasizing data protection, transparency, accountability and multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure safe, equitable and responsible implementation.