THE PROBLEM OF PEDIATRIC PNEUMONIA
Millions of patients die every year from respiratory infections, due to inadequate resources and delay in care.
800,000
Pediatric Deaths/Year
99%
Occur in Developing Nations
#1
Cause of Child Mortality
80%
Die Outside the Hospital
Rural Health Centers (RHC’s) in developing nations face an array of challenges in their battle with pediatric pneumonia. Here is a list of the major problems they face:
- Patient Health: Pediatric pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death among children in the world today, claiming nearly 1 million lives every year of those under 5 year of age [World Health Organization (WHO), 2015-2016; UNICEF, 2017]. More than 99% of these deaths occur in developing nations [UNICEF, 2018].
- Infrastructure: no reliable electricity, water, roads, buildings
- Human Resources: low-skilled personnel, high job rotation.
- Financial: High maintenance and operating costs with frequent equipment breakdown.
- Environmental: hot, dusty, humid conditions; insects and rodents.
- Remote Locations: RHC’s can be hours away from a hospital that has a pediatric ward and supplemental oxygen. 80% of children die BEFORE getting to the hospital.
Experts judge that “the most effective intervention to reduce pneumonia- related deaths for the majority would be improved access to early care where simple, appropriate interventions are provided, including referral where necessary… and ready availability of antibiotics and oxygen [Stephen Graham et al., 2008].” Currently, while antibiotics are readily available at key points in the care-seeking process, oxygen is inaccessible until the hospital-level.