The SAFEMOM study, conducted in collaboration with Reach Digital Health and the South African National Department of Health, tracked 968 participants using the government’s WhatsApp-based maternal platform. Results showed that safe health-seeking behavior increased by nearly a third, while appropriate care-seeking—defined as selecting the right level of medical intervention for specific symptoms—rose by more than 40%. An independent panel of physicians reviewed the AI's recommendations, rating them safe in 98% of cases.

For the study’s participants, the impact was profound. Roughly 90% faced at least three significant barriers to healthcare access, including high unemployment and low monthly income. Before interacting with the AI, these women often reported unsafe care intentions; after the assessment, that disparity compared to more affluent groups vanished. Critically, the tool identified life-threatening conditions among those who had initially intended to manage symptoms at home. Among those diagnosed, 19 participants were flagged for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy—a primary driver of maternal mortality in the region—leading to necessary hospitalizations and surgical interventions.