James H Bower1, Guta Zenebe. 1. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. bower.james@mayo.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To define the current state of neurologic health care services in the nations of Africa. METHODS: A survey on neurologic services was prepared in English, French, and Portuguese and sent to representatives of 53 of 53 African nations. Representatives for each country were identified first through the Pan African Association of Neurologic Sciences, followed by the World Federation of Neurology and the World Health Organization (WHO). If these representatives did not return survey results, contacts were attempted through officials in the embassies in Washington, DC, or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or local ministries of health. RESULTS: Surveys were received from representatives of 38 (71.7%) of the 53 African nations. Data from the WHO were added for 12 nations, resulting in information on 50 (94.3%) of the 53 nations. The nations were divided into four categories according to the number of neurologists per nation. Group A (>10 neurologists/country) included 11 nations, averaging 711,856 population per neurologist. Group B (5 to 10 neurologists/country) included five nations, averaging 1,612,039 population per neurologist. Group C (1 to 4 neurologists/country) included 23 nations, averaging 5,099,908 population per neurologist. Group D included 12 nations with a total population of 25,939,273 that reported having no neurologists. The level of training, presence of local training programs, ancillary equipment, and practice setting options decreased progressively from Group A to Group D. CONCLUSIONS: The population/neurologist ratio in all African nations far exceeds that of the United States and other developed nations. Neurologic services in the African nations range from no formal care at all to established neurologic care with residency training and ancillary equipment.
OBJECTIVE: To define the current state of neurologic health care services in the nations of Africa. METHODS: A survey on neurologic services was prepared in English, French, and Portuguese and sent to representatives of 53 of 53 African nations. Representatives for each country were identified first through the Pan African Association of Neurologic Sciences, followed by the World Federation of Neurology and the World Health Organization (WHO). If these representatives did not return survey results, contacts were attempted through officials in the embassies in Washington, DC, or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, or local ministries of health. RESULTS: Surveys were received from representatives of 38 (71.7%) of the 53 African nations. Data from the WHO were added for 12 nations, resulting in information on 50 (94.3%) of the 53 nations. The nations were divided into four categories according to the number of neurologists per nation. Group A (>10 neurologists/country) included 11 nations, averaging 711,856 population per neurologist. Group B (5 to 10 neurologists/country) included five nations, averaging 1,612,039 population per neurologist. Group C (1 to 4 neurologists/country) included 23 nations, averaging 5,099,908 population per neurologist. Group D included 12 nations with a total population of 25,939,273 that reported having no neurologists. The level of training, presence of local training programs, ancillary equipment, and practice setting options decreased progressively from Group A to Group D. CONCLUSIONS: The population/neurologist ratio in all African nations far exceeds that of the United States and other developed nations. Neurologic services in the African nations range from no formal care at all to established neurologic care with residency training and ancillary equipment.
Authors: Herta Zellner; Daniel Maier; Anna Gasser; Magdalena Doppler; Andrea Winkler; Jaffer Dharsee; Erich Schmutzhard Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Jennifer A Williams; Fodé Abass Cisse; Mike Schaekermann; Foksouna Sakadi; Nana Rahamatou Tassiou; Gladia C Hotan; Aissatou Kenda Bah; Abdoul Bachir Djibo Hamani; Andrew Lim; Edward C W Leung; Tadeu A Fantaneanu; Tracey A Milligan; Vidita Khatri; Daniel B Hoch; Manav V Vyas; Alice D Lam; Joseph M Cohen; Andre C Vogel; Edith Law; Farrah J Mateen Journal: Seizure Date: 2019-05-31 Impact factor: 3.184
Authors: E Ray Dorsey; Alistair M Glidden; Melissa R Holloway; Gretchen L Birbeck; Lee H Schwamm Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2018-04-06 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: Taty Tshimangani; Jean Pongo; Joseph Bodi Mabiala; Marcel Yotebieng; Nicole F O'Brien Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2018-03-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Andy Tran; Kiran T Thakur; Noeline Nakasujja; Gertrude Nakigozi; Alice Kisakye; James Batte; Richard Mayanja; Aggrey Anok; Ronald H Gray; Maria J Wawer; Leah H Rubin; Ned Sacktor; Deanna Saylor Journal: J Neurol Sci Date: 2020-12-24 Impact factor: 3.181