Why This Matters
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare globally, from improving diagnostics to enabling rapid outbreak responses. However, the success of AI depends not only on technology but also on the readiness of communities to use it. Understanding how people perceive AI, whether they trust it, and how prepared they are to adopt it is crucial for effective public health implementation in Cameroon.
This study surveyed 1,625 community members across 4 health districts in the South West and Littoral Regions to assess awareness, knowledge, and preparedness for using AI tools, especially in the context of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases (ERIDs) such as COVID-19 and cholera.
What Did the Study Find?
• General support for AI in healthcare: A large majority believes AI can improve disease prevention early detection, and overall public health outcomes.
• Low awareness: Only about 15% had ever heard of AI in health, but were still open to learning more.
• Urban vs. Rural Divide: Urban residents and those with higher education were more likely to know about AI and support its use.
• Trust and Concerns: People want to know that data privacy, ethics, and fairness are respected. And the assurance that AI would complement rather than replace healthcare providers.
What People Want
• Education and Awareness: Public campaigns to improve understanding of AI, ERIDs, and DOH technologies in local languages and culturally relevant formats.
• Training Programs: Workshops, seminars, and hands-on training to help communities engage confidently with AI tools.
• Community Participation: Inclusion of community members in designing AI systems to ensure the tools meet local needs and are trusted.
• Guarantees of data privacy and safety: Establish frameworks to safeguard privacy, ethics, and fairness while promoting technological innovation.
Why This Is Important
The findings will guide the DigiCare Cameroon project, which is developing AI-powered health tools. By listening to communities first, the project aims to design inclusive, fair, and useful technologies that truly help people.
What’s Next?
The researchers recommend:
• National campaigns to raise awareness
• Including communities in the design of digital tools
• Policy frameworks that protect rights while promoting innovation
Read the Full Article
Access the full scientific paper here
Prepared by Ettah et al., 2025. All rights reserved.
