Electronic Clinical Decision Algorithms and Machine Learning to Improve Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes for Sick Young Infants in Resource-Limited Countries

Sick young infants require adequate care from highly trained healthcare workers, who often rely on laboratory tests for accurate diagnoses. However, specialized healthcare workers and diagnostic services are often lacking in primary healthcare facilities in LMICs. Evidence-based (eCDSAs) are beneficial in restricted settings for older children, although no such system exists for managing young infants in outpatient care settings. The main objective of this research consortium was to develop an eCDSA for young infants in primary care settings and test its acceptability and effect on clinical practice in Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal and India.

The team observed that clinical consultation was simpler and more comprehensive after eCDSA implementation in countries such as Kenya and Tanzania. Furthermore, these findings will be used by policy-makers and the Ministries of Health in each country to inform the implementation of eCDSAs in healthcare facilities.