An Uneven Century: Navigating Health Disparities in Maternal and Neonatal Care in the MENA Region Through Artificial Intelligence

This review article analyzes how decades of progress in maternal and neonatal health (MNH) are being threatened by global crises, conflicts, and socioeconomic inequities, which have led to significant health disparities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The paper calls for context-specific research on the long-term effects of COVID-19 and its variants on MNH, as the absence of this data indicates a deep-seated deficiency in a public health infrastructure not yet equipped for sophisticated epidemiological surveillance during a crisis. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential through improved diagnostics, predictive analytics, and enhanced healthcare delivery, its adoption in MENA region is hindered by digital infrastructure deficits, skill gaps, and complex data privacy and ethical concerns. This review argues that AI can only be a transformative agent if designed to address these multifaceted barriers. By reviewing current AI initiatives and their potential for equitable healthcare delivery, this review concludes with a proposed implementation roadmap for responsible and equitable AI integration to re-accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for MNH in the MENA region.