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Pediatric Surgery International
Published in: Pediatric Surgery International 11/2016

Open Access 01-11-2016 | Original Article

Quantifying the pediatric surgical need in Uganda: results of a nationwide cross-sectional, household survey

Authors: Elissa K. Butler, Tu M. Tran, Anthony T. Fuller, Alexa Brammell, Joao Ricardo Vissoci, Luciano de Andrade, Fredrick Makumbi, Samuel Luboga, Christine Muhumuza, Vincent F. Ssennono, Jeffrey G. Chipman, Moses Galukande, Michael M. Haglund, Emily R. Smith

Published in: Pediatric Surgery International | Issue 11/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about the prevalence of pediatric surgical conditions in low- and middle-income countries. Many children never seek medical care, thus the true prevalence of surgical conditions in children in Uganda is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of surgical conditions in children in Uganda.

Methods

Using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey, we enumerated 4248 individuals in 2315 households in 105 randomly selected clusters throughout Uganda. Children aged 0–18 were included if randomly selected from the household; for those who could not answer for themselves, parents served as surrogates.

Results

Of 2176 children surveyed, 160 (7.4 %) reported a currently untreated surgical condition. Lifetime prevalence of surgical conditions was 14.0 % (305/2176). The predominant cause of surgical conditions was trauma (48.4 %), followed by wounds (19.7 %), acquired deformities (16.2 %), and burns (12.5 %). Of 90 pediatric household deaths, 31.1 % were associated with a surgically treatable proximate cause of death (28/90 deaths).

Conclusion

Although some trauma-related surgical burden among children can be adequately addressed at district hospitals, the need for diagnostics, human resources, and curative services for more severe trauma cases, congenital deformities, and masses outweighs the current capacity of hospitals and trained pediatric surgeons in Uganda.
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Metadata
Title
Quantifying the pediatric surgical need in Uganda: results of a nationwide cross-sectional, household survey
Authors
Elissa K. Butler
Tu M. Tran
Anthony T. Fuller
Alexa Brammell
Joao Ricardo Vissoci
Luciano de Andrade
Fredrick Makumbi
Samuel Luboga
Christine Muhumuza
Vincent F. Ssennono
Jeffrey G. Chipman
Moses Galukande
Michael M. Haglund
Emily R. Smith
Publication date
01-11-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Pediatric Surgery International / Issue 11/2016
Print ISSN: 0179-0358
Electronic ISSN: 1437-9813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-016-3957-3

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