Response to oxygen therapy using oxygen concentrators run off solar power in children with respiratory distress in remote primary health facilities in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Oxygen therapy reduces mortality and morbidity from hypoxaemia in children. There are no published studies assessing individual patient responses to oxygen when delivered by oxygen concentrators in primary healthcare facilities.

Ours was a prospective observational study in remote health facilities over three years. A data recording form was used for children who required oxygen. Oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was recorded before administration of oxygen, at 30 min and then daily. We assessed the primary diagnosis and the outcome.

The common primary diagnoses needing oxygen were pneumonia: moderate (39%) and severe (37%). The median SpO₂ before administration of oxygen in 913 patients was 80% (interquartile range [IQR] 66%–88%), and by five days, for the 121 patients who were recorded, SpO₂ was 97% (IQR 93%–98%). Of the 745 patients with a recorded outcome, 99% had an uneventful recovery.

We conclude that oxygen concentrators are effective in treating children in rural health facilities in Papua New Guinea.