Ethiopia has made significant progress in reducing under-five mortality through policy changes, technological advancements, and improved health services, particularly via the Health Extension Program (HEP). However, data on pediatric hospital admissions and mortality patterns remain limited. Recent evidence suggests that supporting health workers, structuring clinical care, and optimizing resource use can improve outcomes for hospitalized children. Quality improvement strategies include setting standards, using assessment tools, encouraging participation, and harnessing driving forces.

Early identification of at-risk patients, appropriate care matching, and resource allocation are crucial for high-quality medical care. Early warning scores (EWS), which provide an objective measure of a patient’s condition, can identify early signs of clinical deterioration, enabling timely intervention to prevent cardiopulmonary arrest and improve survival.

Although evidence on improving hospital care quality in low-income countries is limited, observational studies indicate that EWS can enhance detection of clinical deterioration and response systems in hospitals. While emergency assessment tools are well-documented in developed countries, their validation in resource-limited settings is needed to address high mortality rates due to different causes of morbidity and mortality. Increasing the adoption of such systems could significantly reduce mortality in these high-burden areas.