Expert consensus on implementation and use of caffeine in Ethiopia

Methylxanthines such as caffeine and aminophylline are routinely administered to prevent apnea of prematurity. Caffeine is one of the most extensively studied drugs in neonatology and, for this reason, it has been included in the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines since 2009. Unfortunately, caffeine is still not available in many low-resource settings. In Ethiopia, its introduction has begun, but national recommendations are still lacking. In this manuscript, we present the process and results of an international expert consensus on the use of caffeine for the prevention and treatment of apnea of prematurity, aimed at supporting its implementation as an essential drug in Ethiopian hospitals. The article's influence may extend beyond Ethiopia, serving as a model for other low- and middle-income countries seeking to integrate caffeine into their neonatal care protocols.