Implementation of solar powered oxygen delivery in a conflict zone: preliminary findings from Somalia on feasibility and usefulness.
Med Confl Surviv
; 38(2): 140-158, 2022 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1900887
ABSTRACT
Access to therapeutic oxygen in low-resource settings remains a significant global problem. Solar powered oxygen (SPO2) delivery is a reliable and cost-effective solution. We followed implementation research methodology to gather data on engineering parameters (remote monitoring), nurse training (before and after knowledge questionnaire), patients treated with SPO2 (descriptive case series), and qualitative user feedback (focus group discussions). In January 2021, SPO2 was installed at Hanano General Hospital in Dusamareb, Galmudug State, Somalia, in a conflict-affected region. Daily photovoltaic cell output (median 8.0 kWh, interquartile range (IQR) 2.6-14) exceeded the electrical load from up to three oxygen concentrators (median 5.0 kWh, IQR 0.90-12). Over the first six months after implementation, 114 patients (age 1 day to 89 years, 54% female) were treated for hypoxaemic illnesses, including COVID-19, pneumonia, neonatal asphyxia, asthma, and trauma. Qualitative end user feedback highlighted SPO2 acceptability. Violent conflict was identified as a contextual factor affecting local oxygen needs. We provide the preliminary findings of this implementation research study and describe the feasibility, fidelity, rapid adoption, usefulness, and acceptability of SPO2 in a low-resource setting characterized by violent conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings demonstrated the lifesaving feasibility of SPO2 in volatile settings.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Infant, Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Med Confl Surviv
Journal subject:
Military Medicine
/
Social Medicine
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
13623699.2022.2081056
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