INTRODUCTION: Malawi is a poor country with few doctors. It has 21 district hospitals all of which have operating theatres but none of which has a permanent surgeon. It also has 4 central hospitals, each with one or more surgeons. Most district hospitals are manned by a single doctor and two or more paramedical clinical officers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All district and central hospitals were visited, and theatre logbooks analysed. All cases performed in 2003 were recorded. RESULTS: In 2003, a total of 48,696 surgical operations were recorded, of which 25,053 were performed in 21 district hospitals and 23,643 in 4 central hospitals. Caesarean section is the commonest major surgical procedure in district hospitals and is performed in approximately 2.8% of all births, compared to 22% in the UK. Very few major general surgical or orthopaedic procedures are carried out in district hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study underlines Malawi's need for more surgeons to be trained and retained.
INTRODUCTION: Malawi is a poor country with few doctors. It has 21 district hospitals all of which have operating theatres but none of which has a permanent surgeon. It also has 4 central hospitals, each with one or more surgeons. Most district hospitals are manned by a single doctor and two or more paramedical clinical officers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All district and central hospitals were visited, and theatre logbooks analysed. All cases performed in 2003 were recorded. RESULTS: In 2003, a total of 48,696 surgical operations were recorded, of which 25,053 were performed in 21 district hospitals and 23,643 in 4 central hospitals. Caesarean section is the commonest major surgical procedure in district hospitals and is performed in approximately 2.8% of all births, compared to 22% in the UK. Very few major general surgical or orthopaedic procedures are carried out in district hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study underlines Malawi's need for more surgeons to be trained and retained.
Authors: Caris E Grimes; Rebekah S L Law; Eric S Borgstein; Nyeno C Mkandawire; Christopher B D Lavy Journal: World J Surg Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Reinou S Groen; Thaim B Kamara; Richmond Dixon-Cole; Steven Kwon; T Peter Kingham; Adam L Kushner Journal: World J Surg Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Marguerite Hoyler; Samuel R G Finlayson; Craig D McClain; John G Meara; Lars Hagander Journal: World J Surg Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Sam Luboga; Sarah B Macfarlane; Johan von Schreeb; Margaret E Kruk; Meena N Cherian; Staffan Bergström; Paul B M Bossyns; Ernest Denerville; Delanyo Dovlo; Moses Galukande; Renee Y Hsia; Sudha P Jayaraman; Lindsey A Lubbock; Charles Mock; Doruk Ozgediz; Patrick Sekimpi; Andreas Wladis; Ahmed Zakariah; Naméoua Babadi Dade; Peter Donkor; Jane Kabutu Gatumbu; Patrick Hoekman; Carel B Ijsselmuiden; Dean T Jamison; Nasreen Jessani; Peter Jiskoot; Ignatius Kakande; Jacqueline R Mabweijano; Naboth Mbembati; Colin McCord; Cephas Mijumbi; Helder de Miranda; Charles A Mkony; Pascoal Mocumbi; Jean Bosco Ndihokubwayo; Pierre Ngueumachi; Gebreamlak Ogbaselassie; Evariste Lodi Okitombahe; Cheikh Tidiane Toure; Fernando Vaz; Charlotte M Zikusooka; Haile T Debas Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2009-12-22 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Moses Galukande; Johan von Schreeb; Andreas Wladis; Naboth Mbembati; Helder de Miranda; Margaret E Kruk; Sam Luboga; Alphonsus Matovu; Colin McCord; S Khady Ndao-Brumblay; Doruk Ozgediz; Peter C Rockers; Ana Romàn Quiñones; Fernando Vaz; Haile T Debas; Sarah B Macfarlane Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2010-03-09 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Margaret E Kruk; Andreas Wladis; Naboth Mbembati; S Khady Ndao-Brumblay; Renee Y Hsia; Moses Galukande; Sam Luboga; Alphonsus Matovu; Helder de Miranda; Doruk Ozgediz; Ana Romàn Quiñones; Peter C Rockers; Johan von Schreeb; Fernando Vaz; Haile T Debas; Sarah B Macfarlane Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2010-03-09 Impact factor: 11.069