Cost-effectiveness analysis of a pediatric acute respiratory illness toolkit in limited-resource settings

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Investigator: Teresa Bleakly Kortz, MS, MD

Location(s): United States

Description

In 2013, over 6 million children worldwide did not survive to their fifth birthday; the majority of these deaths were preventable or treatable with relatively simple and inexpensive interventions. Pneumonia and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) alone account for 15% of pediatric deaths globally, both of which can be treated with relatively low-cost and easy to implement therapies. We propose implementation of a basic pediatric acute respiratory illness toolkit, consisting of oxygen therapy, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, antibiotic therapy, oximetry, and provider training specifically designed for resource-limited settings. To date, however, there are no published analyses assessing the cost-effectiveness of a pediatric ARI toolkit or similar intervention in this setting. This project is designed to address this gap in knowledge and to determine the cost-effectiveness of a pediatric ARI toolkit in limited-resource settings. (San Francisco, CA)

Pneumonia is the second leading cause of death in children under five globally. Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) is a widely accepted supportive therapy in the treatment of pediatric pneumonia. However, bCPAP is often thought of as cost-prohibitive for resource-limited settings, which bear an overwhelming proportion of the disease burden. This study addresses the cost-effectiveness of bCPAP in a representative setting with limited resources, Malawi.

Mentors: Jim Kahn, MD, MPH & Elliot Marseille DrPH, MPP