Evaluating the potential of conversational artificial intelligence for maternal and child health literacy in Pakistan

Pakistan has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates globally. At the same time, mobile phone access is near-universal, and an established community health worker program reaches most of the rural population. Together, these conditions create an opportunity to deliver health education on a scale by leveraging existing infrastructure. Conversational artificial intelligence (AI), particularly voice-enabled systems, offers a potentially accessible and scalable solution for improving health literacy and care-seeking behavior. While evidence is accumulating that people increasingly use AI for health information, there remains limited evidence that such use translates into measurable improvement in health outcomes. Pakistan offers a plausible case study setting to evaluate whether conversational AI, delivered through existing community health system infrastructure, can improve maternal and child health knowledge and influence care seeking, with potential implications for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.