UNLABELLED: To develop an instrument to measure the quality of acute respiratory infection (ARI) case management among Egyptian children. METHODS: A baseline survey of all health facilities in a single district, using a multi-data source instrument. Data sources included providers, caretakers, patient records and observation of patient care. MAIN RESULTS: Physicians did not count the respiratory rate and check for subcostal retraction. Eighty-seven per cent of children who did not require antibiotics received them. Of five children who required antibiotics, four (80%) were prescribed an oral regimen. Three of these should have been admitted to a hospital but were not. Antibiotics were available at the facilities an estimated 7.9 months per year. Oxygen for inpatient treatment was available in one of two hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This instrument was useful for comprehensively evaluating facility capability to provide quality case management. Deficiencies were identified but were not unexpected in a baseline survey. The Egypt ARI program has the potential to have a substantial impact on how children with ARI are diagnosed and treated in health facilities.
UNLABELLED: To develop an instrument to measure the quality of acute respiratory infection (ARI) case management among Egyptian children. METHODS: A baseline survey of all health facilities in a single district, using a multi-data source instrument. Data sources included providers, caretakers, patient records and observation of patient care. MAIN RESULTS: Physicians did not count the respiratory rate and check for subcostal retraction. Eighty-seven per cent of children who did not require antibiotics received them. Of five children who required antibiotics, four (80%) were prescribed an oral regimen. Three of these should have been admitted to a hospital but were not. Antibiotics were available at the facilities an estimated 7.9 months per year. Oxygen for inpatient treatment was available in one of two hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This instrument was useful for comprehensively evaluating facility capability to provide quality case management. Deficiencies were identified but were not unexpected in a baseline survey. The Egypt ARI program has the potential to have a substantial impact on how children with ARI are diagnosed and treated in health facilities.
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Keywords:
Africa; Age Factors; Antibiotics; Arab Countries; Baseline Surveys; Child; Child Health Services; Delivery Of Health Care; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Diseases; Drugs; Egypt; Equipment And Supplies; Examinations And Diagnoses; Health; Health Services; Infections; Maternal-child Health Services; Mediterranean Countries; Northern Africa; Physical Examinations And Diagnoses; Population; Population Characteristics; Primary Health Care; Respiratory Infections; Sampling Studies; Signs And Symptoms; Studies; Surveys; Treatment; Youth