Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed the first India-specific artificial intelligence (AI) model to accurately determine the fetal age in a pregnant woman in the second and third trimester. It was carried out in collaboration with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad, as part of the “Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes – DBT India Initiative” programme.
Accurate 'gestational age' (GA) is essential for proper care of pregnant women and determining the exact delivery date. Called “Garbini-GA2”, it is the first last-quarter GA estimation model to be developed and validated using Indian population data.
Currently, fetal age (gestational age or GA) is determined using a formula developed for Western populations. These are likely to be inaccurate when applied in the later part of pregnancy due to variations in fetal growth in the Indian population. The newly developed 'Garbhini-GA2' accurately estimates fetal age for the Indian population, reducing the error by approximately three times. This GA model can improve the care provided by gynecologists and neonates, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality in India.
Welcoming this research, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, said, “GARBH-Ini is a flagship program of DBT, and the development of these population-specific models to estimate gestational age is a commendable outcome. These models are being validated across the country