Alelo has developed a conversational AI avatar designed to play the role of a postpartum woman with health-related concerns. KDH Research & Communication (KDHRC) partnered with Alelo to integrate the AI Avatar into their Phase I National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded professional development course for community health workers (CHWs). This course, called MOMS Postpartum (Monitoring and Outreach for Maternal Safety Postpartum), will prepare CHWs to provide support to postpartum minority women and address their unique health needs. CHWs are lay health workers often employed to conduct health outreach to minority and underserved communities. Community-based organizations, known for playing a vital and effective role in community members’ health, will use MOMS Postpartum to train CHWs in postpartum outreach and support specifically for minority women.
The U.S. leads western nations in maternal mortality, with Black women facing the highest risk. Using CHWs is a good approach because it expands the workforce and is a culturally tailored approach, specifically working with minority populations. Expanding the workforce by training and deploying CHWs offers a promising way to reduce maternal mortality disparities. Trusted within their communities, CHWs help bridge healthcare gaps by navigating barriers, linking patients to resources, and connecting them with health care providers. The MOMS Postpartum course will empower CHWs to support minority mothers by connecting postpartum support and resources from both medical providers and non-medical birth workers.
Alelo’s Enskill platform uses generative AI to create simulated patients that engage CHWs in realistic, conversational scenarios. As CHWs practice with simulated patients, they build essential outreach skills, including recognizing and discussing symptoms of postpartum depression, addressing barriers that mothers face when seeking maternal health care, and understanding when to refer cases that fall outside of their role. They also practice active listening, expressing empathy, and other essential skills that enhance their effectiveness in supporting maternal health.
Here is an excerpt of a sample conversation between a CHW trainee and a simulated client:
CHW: So how would you say on a scale of 1 to 10… you’re feeling on a daily basis right now?
Client: Some days I feel okay, maybe a 5? But other days, I just feel completely overwhelmed… I feel like I’m failing Hailey, my daughter.
CHW: Yeah, I totally understand what you mean. And I’m just going to reiterate if you’re doing your best, you are absolutely not failing your daughter… So as a community health worker, I’m here to support you and recommend resources for you…
Dexter Cooper, KDHRC project manager for the MOMS Postpartum course, writes: “The Alelo Enskill program is an effective training tool that provides practical experiences for the user. Interacting with the avatar simulation is easy and self-explanatory. The assessment feature after completing the simulation is valuable, in that it provides the user with information about what they did well and areas they can improve on. The Alelo Enskill program is tailored to a company’s needs and is versatile across topic areas. I would recommend this program to anyone for education and training purposes.”
Funding disclaimer: Information about the MOMS Postpartum reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43MD019206. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
