State-wide situation analysis of availability of basic resuscitation devices and essential drugs in primary and secondary healthcare facilities in Cross River State, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Provision of Basic Life Support (BLS) to victims of cardiac arrest and other common causes of sudden death, is a key function of healthcare systems. Such life-saving service, which is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), is highly dependent on consistent availability of BLS devices and essential drugs. These devices are used to secure airway, deliver oxygen, gain intravenous access for infusions, provide cardiac defibrillation and monitor the cardiorespiratory systems. This study was aimed at evaluating the current state of availability of these devices and essential drugs in healthcare facilities in a developing country setting, within the context of urgent need to curb increasing burden of preventable sudden death. METHODS: descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed to assess availability of each of the aforementioned subgroups of resuscitation devices and drugs, in each primary and secondary healthcare facility in all eighteen (18) Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Cross River State, in Southern Nigeria. Quantitative data was obtained using structured proforma, which was used to document presence and quantity of physically seen device(s) and drugs in each facility. The proportion of health facilities with presence of the devices and drugs, was compared between the three districts using chi-square test. P-value was set at 0.05. RESULTS: two hundred and five (205) health care facilities across the eighteen (18) LGAs of Cross River State were assessed. Approximately one-tenth of health facilities had oropharyngeal airway (10.2%) and laryngoscope (9.3%). Only 5.4% and 3.9% had nasopharyngeal and endotracheal tubes, respectively. None of all of these airway devices was found in all health facilities within four LGAs (22.2%). The most commonly available breathing device was self-inflation bag (SIB), which was found in 51.7% of facilities. Seven LGAs (38.9%) had all of their health facilities not having either oxygen delivery devices, oxygen supply or both. Most health facilities had each of the IV access devices and infusion fluids, but only five facilities had automated external defibrillator (AED). Most health facilities had stethoscope (91.2%) and sphygmomanometer (72.2%), but only 15.1% and 9.3% had pulse oximeter and airway nebulizer, respectively. Less than one-fifth (18.5%) of facilities had atropine, and only 3.9% had amiodarone. Except for amiodarone, there was significantly higher proportion of health facilities that had each of the other essential drugs, in northern compared with other districts (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: devices and essential drugs required for provision of resuscitation are lacking in most health facilities in Cross River State. This situation significantly limits the health system’s capacity to save lives, especially during emergencies. The implications of these state-wide findings, as well as modalities and options for improvement in availability of these essential devices and drugs are discussed in this article.