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BMC Emergency Medicine
Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

Hospital disaster preparedness in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of English literature

Authors: Bashir Farah, Milena Pavlova, Wim Groot

Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Disasters are increasing worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) being one of the most prone regions. Hospitals play a key role in disasters. This study provides a systematic review of the evidence on disaster preparedness by hospitals in SSA countries based on English literature.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted of articles published between January 2012 and July 2022. We searched PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct, Google Scholar, the WHO depository library and CDC sites for English language publications. The key inclusion criteria were: publications should have been published in the above period, deal with hospital disaster preparedness in SSA, the full paper should have been available, and studies should have presented a comparison between hospitals and/or a single hospital.

Results

Results indicate improvements in disaster preparedness over time. However, health systems in SSA are generally considered vulnerable, and they find it difficult to adapt to changing health conditions. Inadequately skilled healthcare professionals, underfunding, poor knowledge, the absence of governance and leadership, lack of transparency and bureaucracy are the main preparedness barriers. Some countries are in an infancy stage of their health system development, while others are among the least developed health system in the world. Finally, a major barrier to disaster preparedness in SSA countries is the inability to collaborate in disaster response.

Conclusions

Hospital disaster preparedness is vulnerable in SSA countries. Thus, improvement of hospital disaster preparedness is highly needed.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Hospital disaster preparedness in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of English literature
Authors
Bashir Farah
Milena Pavlova
Wim Groot
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-227X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00843-5

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