Integrating new devices into MNH care

Integrating obstetric O-POCUS into primary care across Migori County represents a valuable innovation for improving maternal-fetal health outcomes. As this will improves clinical decision-making and referral quality in antenatal care. Sustainable adoption and scale-up depends on investment in training, infrastructure, ongoing mentorship, device maintenance, and clear protocols. Future efforts should aim to evaluate cost-effectiveness and long-term impact on maternal-infant outcome improvements.

Over 3 million children in low resource settings die annually, partly due to limited resources. The IMPALA system, combining vital signs monitors and intuitive software, aids healthcare providers (HCPs) in realtime risk assessment and early detection. Previously shown to be sustainable and life/cost saving in Malawi pediatric care, this study presents initial implementation results in two neonatal care settings in Rwanda. Using a mixed methods design, data was collected pre and post implementation. HCPs reported improved ability to detect deterioration and intervene timely. A central patient overview allowed rapid prioritization, optimizing nurse time. Mothers found the system helpful for tracking baby health and alerting staff. Neonatal mortality dropped by 20% in Nyamata, while staying stable in Rwamagana. IMPALA is an acceptable, sustainable intervention in severely resource constrained neonatal care, enabling proactive work, time saving, and potentially lifesaving. If validated, it will be a cost-effective solution for reducing neonatal mortality.

In Uganda, neonatal mortality remains high, with birth asphyxia a major contributor linked to inadequate resuscitation skills among healthcare providers. The Augmented Infant Resuscitator (AIR) is a sensor-enabled training device that offers real-time feedback and stores practice data to improve neonatal resuscitation skills. In 2024, the SWAP project introduced AIR in five health facilities in Kampala. Forty providers were assessed before and after five months of implementation. Results showed a significant improvement in resuscitation performance: time to effective ventilation dropped from 40.2 to 11.2 seconds, and duration increased from 23.2 to 62.9 seconds. Acceptability was high, with most users reporting AIR was easy to use and useful for independent practice. Key motivators included the real-time feedback and desire to improve skills. Barriers included workload and limited device access. AIR shows promise for broader scale-up in Uganda.