A Multisite Inventory Study of Neonatal Syringe Pumps in Zambia

Abstract Background: The global neonatal mortality rate is due to miss the third Sustainable Development Goal of 12 deaths per 100 live births by 2030. However, medical devices can play a crucial role in improving the quality of care given to neonates, helping to reduce the rate further. Methods: This study focuses on quantifying the availability of syringe pumps to newborns at key hospital locations in Zambia. Inventories of syringe pumps on neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were conducted at 7 different hospitals. Results: Syringe pumps were only available on 3 of the 8 NICUs. Only 1 of the 13 syringe pumps were found in the Copperbelt region, despite 5 of the hospitals being located there. The largest syringe pump-to-bed ratio was 0.17 at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital. Conclusions: In Zambia, there is a disproportionate availability of syringe pumps, for neonatal care, in the Lusaka and Southern regions compared to the Copperbelt region in the north.