Utilizing an innovative pulse oximeter to better diagnose sick children in Burundi
A New Innovative Pulse Oximeter and Childhood Illnesses in Burundi 06/2021 – 6/2022
To improve early identification and referral of sick children in low-resourced and fragile settings, WV Burundi and WVI are evaluating the accuracy, feasibility, and acceptability of a rugged, portable, handheld device called the Rad-G Pulse Oximeter that can measure oxygen saturation and pulse. This innovative device can aid MoH Community Health Workers in Burundi in correctly diagnosing sick children with pneumonia.
Funding: WV US Accelerator Fund and WV Germany/European Union
ABSTRACT
In Burundi, malaria, pneumonia, and acute diarrhea account for 93% of all hospitalizations of children ages 2 to 59 months (Moise, 2018). Community Health Workers (CHWs) in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) play an essential role in providing primary health care to remote and fragile communities. However, CHWs often struggle to correctly identify childhood illnesses due to limited diagnostic tools, especially for diagnosing pneumonia (Spence et al., 2017). World Vision, in partnership with the Burundi Ministry of Health (MOH), evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of a non-invasive pulse oximeter (diagnostic tool) used by CHWs during their integrated community case management (iCCM) of childhood illness consultations in Rutana and Cankuzo Provinces, Burundi.
Methods:
A convenience sample size of 32 volunteers,MOH-supported CHWs tasked with providing iCCM services to children 6 to 59 months were recruited to participate in the study. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) and six key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted in Kurundi to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the non-invasive pulse oximeter among CHWs, caregivers, and health facility nurses. We used deductive and inductive reasoning to develop a codebook that descriptive, process, emotional, value, and concept domains. Translated English transcripts were then coded using the qualitative analysis software MAXQDA to determine emerging themes.
References:
Moise, I. K. (2018). Causes of Morbidity and Mortality among Neonates and Children in Post-Conflict Burundi: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study. Children, 5(9), 125. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5090125
Spence, H., Baker, K., Wharton-Smith, A., Mucunguzi, A., Matata, L., Habte, T., Nanyumba, D., Sebsibe, A., Thany, T., & Källander, K. (2017). Childhood pneumonia diagnostics: Community health workers’ and national stakeholders’ differing perspectives of new and existing aids. Global Health Action, 10(1), 1290340. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2017.1290340
