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29-07-2022 | COVID-19 | Original Article

Pediatric surgery backlog at a Ugandan tertiary care facility: COVID-19 makes a chronic problem acutely worse

Authors: Greg Klazura, Phyllis Kisa, Anne Wesonga, Mary Nabukenya, Nasser Kakembo, Stella Nimanya, Rovine Naluyimbazi, John Sekabira, Doruk Ozgediz, Monica Langer

Published in: Pediatric Surgery International | Issue 10/2022

Abstract

Background

1.7 billion of the world’s 2.2 billion children do not have access to surgical care. COVID-19 acutely exacerbated this problem; delaying or preventing presentation and access to surgical care globally. We sought to quantify the effect of COVID-19 on children requiring surgery in Uganda.

Methods

Average monthly incident, elective pediatric surgical patient volume was calculated by sampling clinic logs before and during the pandemic, and case volume was quantified by reviewing operative logbooks for all surgeries in 2020 at Mulago Hospital, Kampala. Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) resulting from untreated disease were calculated and used to estimate economic impact using three different models.

Results

Expected elective pediatric surgery cases were 956. In 2020, pediatric surgery at Mulago was limited to 46 elective cases, approximately 5% of the expected incident cases, leading to a backlog of 910 patients and a loss of 10,620.12 DALYs. The economic impact of more than 10,000 disability years in Uganda is conservatively estimated at $23 million USD with other measures estimating ~ $120 million USD.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic limited access to pediatric surgery in Uganda, making a chronic problem acutely worse, with costly consequences for the children and health system.

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Title: Pediatric surgery backlog at a Ugandan tertiary care facility: COVID-19 makes a chronic problem acutely worse
Authors: Greg Klazura
Phyllis Kisa
Anne Wesonga
Mary Nabukenya
Nasser Kakembo
Stella Nimanya
Rovine Naluyimbazi
John Sekabira
Doruk Ozgediz
Monica Langer
Publication date: 29-07-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: COVID-19
Care
COVID-19
Published in: Pediatric Surgery International / Issue 10/2022
Print ISSN: 0179-0358
Electronic ISSN: 1437-9813
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-022-05187-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Pediatric surgery backlog at a Ugandan tertiary care facility: COVID-19 makes a chronic problem acutely worse

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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