BACKGROUND: Hypoxemia, a fatal condition characterized by low concentration of oxygen in the blood, is strongly associated with death among children with pneumonia. Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health launched its first National Oxygen and Pulse Oximetry Scale-up road map to improve access and utilization of pulse oximetry and oxygen. This study aimed to describe the use of pulse oximetry during the initial patient assessment among children under five diagnosed with pneumonia and serves as a benchmark to measure progress of the road map. METHODS: The study design was an observational study using retrospective review of patient medical records at 14 hospitals. Medical records of 443 children age 0-59 months with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia were randomly selected for review. The primary outcome was whether an arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurement was recorded in the patient's medical record at the initial assessment. RESULTS: Overall, 10% (95% confidence interval CI = 4%-22%) of patient medical records had a SpO2 measurement. Admitted patients were more likely to have a SpO2 measurement recorded in their medical records than patients treated in the outpatient department (P<0.01). Among admitted patients, 19% (95% CI = 8%-38%) had a SpO2 measurement compared to 3% (95% CI = 1%-11%) of patients treated in the outpatient department. CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, patients under five with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia are rarely screened for hypoxemia with a pulse oximeter, and hypoxemia may be severely underdiagnosed. Much needs to be done to improve the routine use of pulse oximetry.
BACKGROUND: Hypoxemia, a fatal condition characterized by low concentration of oxygen in the blood, is strongly associated with death among children with pneumonia. Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health launched its first National Oxygen and Pulse Oximetry Scale-up road map to improve access and utilization of pulse oximetry and oxygen. This study aimed to describe the use of pulse oximetry during the initial patient assessment among children under five diagnosed with pneumonia and serves as a benchmark to measure progress of the road map. METHODS: The study design was an observational study using retrospective review of patient medical records at 14 hospitals. Medical records of 443 children age 0-59 months with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia were randomly selected for review. The primary outcome was whether an arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurement was recorded in the patient's medical record at the initial assessment. RESULTS: Overall, 10% (95% confidence interval CI = 4%-22%) of patient medical records had a SpO2 measurement. Admitted patients were more likely to have a SpO2 measurement recorded in their medical records than patients treated in the outpatient department (P<0.01). Among admitted patients, 19% (95% CI = 8%-38%) had a SpO2 measurement compared to 3% (95% CI = 1%-11%) of patients treated in the outpatient department. CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia, patients under five with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia are rarely screened for hypoxemia with a pulse oximeter, and hypoxemia may be severely underdiagnosed. Much needs to be done to improve the routine use of pulse oximetry.
Authors: Li Liu; Shefali Oza; Dan Hogan; Yue Chu; Jamie Perin; Jun Zhu; Joy E Lawn; Simon Cousens; Colin Mathers; Robert E Black Journal: Lancet Date: 2016-11-11 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Morris Ogero; Philip Ayieko; Boniface Makone; Thomas Julius; Lucas Malla; Jacquie Oliwa; Grace Irimu; Mike English Journal: J Glob Health Date: 2018-06 Impact factor: 4.413
Authors: Hamish R Graham; Ayobami A Bakare; Amy Gray; Adejumoke Idowu Ayede; Shamim Qazi; Barbara McPake; Rasa Izadnegahdar; Trevor Duke; Adegoke G Falade Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2018-06-26
Authors: Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman; Aniqa Tasnim Hossain; Mohammod Jobayer Chisti; David H Dockrell; Harish Nair; Shams El Arifeen; Harry Campbell Journal: J Glob Health Date: 2021-09-11 Impact factor: 4.413