| Reporting Organization: | Institute for Global Health at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital |
|---|---|
| Total Budget ($CAD): | $ 40,000 |
| Timeframe: | January 25, 2024 - May 21, 2025 |
| Status: | Fermé |
| Contact Information: |
Charly Huxford [email protected] |
Institute for Global Health at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital
| Uganda - $ 40,000.00 (100.00%) | |
| Health Systems, Training & Infrastructure (0 %) | |
| Primary Health Care (0 %) | |
| Newborn & Child Health (0 %) | |
| Adolescent Health (0 %) | |
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the scarcity of medical oxygen contributes to preventable child deaths—particularly from hypoxemic pneumonia and sepsis. Even when oxygen is available, inefficient use can lead to waste, shortages, and delays in care for critically ill patients. Oxygen is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an essential medicine, yet millions of children who need it never receive it. UNICEF estimates that severe pneumonia alone causes critical hypoxemia in over 4 million children under five in LMICs each year, and access to oxygen therapy can reduce in-hospital mortality by up to 35%.
A key challenge is ensuring that oxygen is used appropriately. While supplemental oxygen is life-saving, excessive or unnecessary administration can cause harm, such as oxygen toxicity or blindness in infants, and depletes already limited supplies. WHO guidelines recommend using pulse oximetry—a quick, non-invasive measure of oxygen saturation (SpO₂)—to monitor children receiving oxygen therapy at least twice a day. However, there are currently no widely available tools to help health workers adjust oxygen flow rates in real time based on continuous SpO₂ measurements.
The Smart O₂ project aims to close this gap. Our goal is to develop and validate a clinical algorithm that guides regular oxygen titration for critically ill children using continuous SpO₂ monitoring. By matching oxygen supply to actual patient needs, Smart O2 aims to:
| Gender and age: | Adolescent females Adolescent males Under-5 children Children, girls Children, boys |
|---|---|
| Descriptors: | Rural Urban |
| Total Direct Population: | 96 |
| 3 | Training |
| 5 | Research |
| 1 | Clinical tool |
A total of 96 children were enrolled, with comprehensive data collected on oxygen use, pulse oximetry measurements, and vital signs. Over 50 healthcare workers received training on the principles of oxygen titration, enhancing their capacity to deliver safe and efficient oxygen therapy.
