Emily R Smith1, Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci2, Thiago Augusto Hernandes Rocha3, Tu M Tran4, Anthony T Fuller5, Elissa K Butler6, Luciano de Andrade7, Fredrick Makumbi8, Samuel Luboga9, Christine Muhumuza8, Didacus B Namanya10, Jeffrey G Chipman11, Moses Galukande12, Michael M Haglund13. 1. Duke University Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: emily.smith1@duke.edu. 2. Duke University Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. 3. Federal University of Minas Gerais, Business Administration Research Center, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRA. 4. Duke University Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Durham, NC, USA. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Durham, NC, USA. 6. Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. 7. State University of West of Parana, Unioeste, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil; Public Health Research Group, Unioeste, Toledo, Brazil. 8. Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda. 9. Department of Anatomy, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda. 10. Ministry of Health, Government of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda. 11. Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 12. Department of Surgery, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. 13. Duke University Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Durham, NC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), an estimated 85% of children do not have access to surgical care. The objective of the current study was to determine the geographic distribution of surgical conditions among children throughout Uganda. METHODS: Using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey, we enumerated 2176 children in 2315 households throughout Uganda. At the district level, we determined the spatial autocorrelation of surgical need with geographic access to surgical centers variable. FINDINGS: The highest average distance to a surgical center was found in the northern region at 14.97km (95% CI: 11.29km-16.89km). Younger children less than five years old had a higher prevalence of unmet surgical need in all four regions than their older counterparts. The spatial regression model showed that distance to surgical center and care availability were the main spatial predictors of unmet surgical need. INTERPRETATION: We found differences in unmet surgical need by region and age group of the children, which could serve as priority areas for focused interventions to alleviate the burden. Future studies could be conducted in the northern regions to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing pediatric surgical care in the areas of most need. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.
BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), an estimated 85% of children do not have access to surgical care. The objective of the current study was to determine the geographic distribution of surgical conditions among children throughout Uganda. METHODS: Using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey, we enumerated 2176 children in 2315 households throughout Uganda. At the district level, we determined the spatial autocorrelation of surgical need with geographic access to surgical centers variable. FINDINGS: The highest average distance to a surgical center was found in the northern region at 14.97km (95% CI: 11.29km-16.89km). Younger children less than five years old had a higher prevalence of unmet surgical need in all four regions than their older counterparts. The spatial regression model showed that distance to surgical center and care availability were the main spatial predictors of unmet surgical need. INTERPRETATION: We found differences in unmet surgical need by region and age group of the children, which could serve as priority areas for focused interventions to alleviate the burden. Future studies could be conducted in the northern regions to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing pediatric surgical care in the areas of most need. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.
Authors: Tessa L Concepcion; Emily R Smith; Mubarak Mohamed; Shugri Dahir; Edna Adan Ismail; Andrew J M Leather; Dan Poenaru; Henry E Rice Journal: World J Surg Date: 2019-11 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Tessa L Concepcion; Shukri Dahir; Mubarak Mohamed; Kyle Hiltbrunn; Edna Adan Ismail; Dan Poenaru; Henry E Rice; Emily R Smith Journal: World J Surg Date: 2020-06 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Emily R Smith; Brittney J van de Water; Anna Martin; Sarah Jean Barton; Jasmine Seider; Christopher Fitzgibbon; Mathama Malakha Bility; Nelia Ekeji; Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci; Michael M Haglund; Janet Prvu Bettger Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2018-09-20 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Ashley Bearden; Anthony T Fuller; Elissa K Butler; Tu Tran; Fredrick Makumbi; Samuel Luboga; Christine Muhumuza; Vincent Ssennono; Moses Galukande; Michael Haglund; Emily R Smith Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-11-01 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Katherine R Iverson; Emma Svensson; Kristin Sonderman; Ernest J Barthélemy; Isabelle Citron; Kerry A Vaughan; Brittany L Powell; John G Meara; Mark G Shrime Journal: Int J Health Policy Manag Date: 2019-09-01
Authors: Thiago Augusto Hernandes Rocha; Joao Vissoci; Nubia Rocha; Dan Poenaru; Mark Shrime; Emily R Smith; Henry E Rice Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-03-24 Impact factor: 2.692