BACKGROUND: Adequate surgical care is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries because of diverse barriers preventing patients from reaching providers. We sought to assess perceived difficulties to accessing surgical care in Nepal using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need tool. METHODS: Fifteen of 75 Nepali districts were selected proportionate to the population, with 1,350 households surveyed. Household heads answered questions regarding access to health facilities, and 2 household members were interviewed for medical history. Continuous and categorical variables were analyzed via Wilcoxon rank sum test and Pearson χ(2) test. Multivariable logistic regressions for independent predictors of care access were performed controlling for age, sex, location, and literacy. RESULTS: Of respondents with a surgical condition (n = 1,342), 650 (48.4%) accessed care and 237 (17.7%) did not. Unadjusted analyses showed greater median travel times to all facilities (P < .001) and median transport costs to secondary and tertiary centers (P < .001) for those who did not access care versus those who did. Literate respondents were more likely to access care across all facilities and access variables in adjusted models (odds ratio 1.66-1.80, P < .01). Those without transport money were less likely to access care at any facility in all analyses (P < .01). CONCLUSION: The data project that at least 2.4 million individuals lack access to needed surgical care in Nepal during their lifetimes, with those not accessing health facilities having lower literacy rates and fewer transport resources. Promoting education, outreach programs, and transportation access could lessen barriers but will require further exploration.
BACKGROUND: Adequate surgical care is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries because of diverse barriers preventing patients from reaching providers. We sought to assess perceived difficulties to accessing surgical care in Nepal using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need tool. METHODS: Fifteen of 75 Nepali districts were selected proportionate to the population, with 1,350 households surveyed. Household heads answered questions regarding access to health facilities, and 2 household members were interviewed for medical history. Continuous and categorical variables were analyzed via Wilcoxon rank sum test and Pearson χ(2) test. Multivariable logistic regressions for independent predictors of care access were performed controlling for age, sex, location, and literacy. RESULTS: Of respondents with a surgical condition (n = 1,342), 650 (48.4%) accessed care and 237 (17.7%) did not. Unadjusted analyses showed greater median travel times to all facilities (P < .001) and median transport costs to secondary and tertiary centers (P < .001) for those who did not access care versus those who did. Literate respondents were more likely to access care across all facilities and access variables in adjusted models (odds ratio 1.66-1.80, P < .01). Those without transport money were less likely to access care at any facility in all analyses (P < .01). CONCLUSION: The data project that at least 2.4 million individuals lack access to needed surgical care in Nepal during their lifetimes, with those not accessing health facilities having lower literacy rates and fewer transport resources. Promoting education, outreach programs, and transportation access could lessen barriers but will require further exploration.
Authors: Kevin Li; Kajal Mehta; Ada Wright; Joohee Lee; Manish Yadav; Tam N Pham; Shankar M Rai; Kiran Nakarmi; Barclay Stewart Journal: J Burn Care Res Date: 2021-08-04 Impact factor: 1.845
Authors: Arjan J Knulst; Shailvi Gupta; Reinou S Groen; Dipak Maharjan; Amatya S Kapendra; Jenny Dankelman; Adam L Kushner Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2019-08-06 Impact factor: 2.622
Authors: Sabrina Juran; Sanna Moren; Vatshalan Santhirapala; Lina Roa; Emmanuel Makasa; Justine Davies; Jose Miguel Guzman; Lars Hagander; Hampus Holmer; Mark G Shrime; Thomas G Weiser; John G Meara; Stefanie J Klug; David Ljungman Journal: Glob Health Sci Pract Date: 2021-12-21
Authors: Michelle C White; Mirjam Hamer; Jasmin Biddell; Nathan Claus; Kirsten Randall; Dennis Alcorn; Gary Parker; Mark G Shrime Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2017-09-29