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Background:

Preterm birth occurs in 10% of deliveries in Ethiopia. Globally, respiratory distress, hypothermia, and infection are among the leading causes of neonatal deaths in preterm neonates. Continuous monitoring of heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), blood oxygen concentration (O2), and body temperature (T) can provide a means of alerting of caregivers to these life-threatening conditions, in a timely manner, so they can administer care. In Ethiopia, neonatal monitoring is not performed continuously, even in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), creating high risk scenarios for neonates. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed an all-in-one, wireless, nanomembrane wearable device for continuous monitoring of neonates (GT Biopatch), designed to track and display HR, RR, O2, and T wirelessly via Bluetooth on a standard smartphone or tablet. Preliminary studies in South Korea and USA demonstrate the safety and feasibility of using this device to monitor neonates; however, it is unknown whether this device will be feasible for use in an Ethiopian clinical care setting.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to collect essential data to further verify safety and assess the feasibility, accuracy, usability, participant acceptability of an all-in-one wearable device for continuously monitoring neonates at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Expected Outcome:

We expect that the 2nd generation GT Biopatch will remain functional during the period of wear in >90% of the neonates enrolled, will yield temperature measurements within +-0.5 degrees Celcius, heart rate within 5 bpm, respiratory rate within +-5 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation within +-3% of the gold standard measurement value, will be rated as easyto-use by 95% of the nurses and 90% of the mothers and acceptable by 95% of the nurses and 90% of the mothers enrolled.

Funding:

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation