Abstract:
Celiac disease is an under-recognized autoimmune condition in many low-resource urban settings, including Kigali, Rwanda. Limited public awareness, non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms, and culturally embedded dietary patterns may contribute to delayed recognition and underdiagnosis. This study presents a pilot investigation of a culturally sensitive, artificial intelligence-supported health education framework designed to improve awareness, understanding and early help-seeking behavior related to celiac disease.
A mixed-methods, community-engaged pilot design will be implemented. Qualitative data will be collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with community members, primary healthcare providers, nutritionists, and individuals reporting persistent gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim is to explore existing knowledge, misconceptions, dietary practices, and barriers to recognizing gluten-related disorders. Findings will guide the culturally grounded adaptation of educational content and system design.
A prototype AI-based educational tool will be developed using validated health information adapted for cultural relevance, linguistic accessibility, and local health literacy levels. The tool will function strictly as a non-diagnostic educational chatbot and mobile-accessible learning platform, delivering structured and interactive health education in contextually appropriate language.
A pilot pre-test and post-test evaluation will assess feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. Outcomes include changes in knowledge, attitudes, and intended health-seeking behaviors among participants exposed to the intervention. Feasibility indicators such as usability, engagement and acceptability will also be assessed using descriptive statistics.
Ethical considerations will include informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and strict safeguards ensuring the AI system is used solely for educational purposes and not medical diagnosis or treatment. Cultural safety will be ensured through continuous engagement with community stakeholders and iterative content validation. This is expected to provide preliminary evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of AI-supported culturally adapted health education for celiac disease. It contributes to digital global health innovation by exploring how AI can be responsibly integrated into community-based health education in underserved urban populations.