Sagar Chawla1, Shaheen Kurani2, Sherry M Wren3, Barclay Stewart4, Gilbert Burnham5, Adam Kushner6, Thomas McIntyre7. 1. Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: sagarschawla@gmail.com. 2. Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. 3. Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Stanford, California. 4. Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. 5. Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. 6. Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York; Surgeons OverSeas, New York, New York. 7. Department of Surgery, Kings County Hospital Center, SUNY Downstate School of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Access to reliable energy has been identified as a global priority and codified within United Nations Sustainable Goal 7 and the Electrify Africa Act of 2015. Reliable hospital access to electricity is necessary to provide safe surgical care. The current state of electrical availability in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) throughout the world is not well known. This study aimed to review the surgical capacity literature and document the availability of electricity and generators. METHODS: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic search for surgical capacity assessments in LMICs in MEDLINE, PubMed, and World Health Organization Global Health Library was performed. Data regarding electricity and generator availability were extracted. Estimated percentages for individual countries were calculated. RESULTS: Of 76 articles identified, 21 reported electricity availability, totaling 528 hospitals. Continuous electricity availability at hospitals providing surgical care was 312/528 (59.1%). Generator availability was 309/427 (72.4%). Estimated continuous electricity availability ranged from 0% (Sierra Leone and Malawi) to 100% (Iran); estimated generator availability was 14% (Somalia) to 97.6% (Iran). CONCLUSIONS: Less than two-thirds of hospitals providing surgical care in 21 LMICs have a continuous electricity source or have an available generator. Efforts are needed to improve electricity infrastructure at hospitals to assure safe surgical care. Future research should look at the effect of energy availability on surgical care and patient outcomes and novel methods of powering surgical equipment.
BACKGROUND: Access to reliable energy has been identified as a global priority and codified within United Nations Sustainable Goal 7 and the Electrify Africa Act of 2015. Reliable hospital access to electricity is necessary to provide safe surgical care. The current state of electrical availability in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) throughout the world is not well known. This study aimed to review the surgical capacity literature and document the availability of electricity and generators. METHODS: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic search for surgical capacity assessments in LMICs in MEDLINE, PubMed, and World Health Organization Global Health Library was performed. Data regarding electricity and generator availability were extracted. Estimated percentages for individual countries were calculated. RESULTS: Of 76 articles identified, 21 reported electricity availability, totaling 528 hospitals. Continuous electricity availability at hospitals providing surgical care was 312/528 (59.1%). Generator availability was 309/427 (72.4%). Estimated continuous electricity availability ranged from 0% (Sierra Leone and Malawi) to 100% (Iran); estimated generator availability was 14% (Somalia) to 97.6% (Iran). CONCLUSIONS: Less than two-thirds of hospitals providing surgical care in 21 LMICs have a continuous electricity source or have an available generator. Efforts are needed to improve electricity infrastructure at hospitals to assure safe surgical care. Future research should look at the effect of energy availability on surgical care and patient outcomes and novel methods of powering surgical equipment.
Authors: Kenneth A Fleming; Susan Horton; Michael L Wilson; Rifat Atun; Kristen DeStigter; John Flanigan; Shahin Sayed; Pierrick Adam; Bertha Aguilar; Savvas Andronikou; Catharina Boehme; William Cherniak; Annie Ny Cheung; Bernice Dahn; Lluis Donoso-Bach; Tania Douglas; Patricia Garcia; Sarwat Hussain; Hari S Iyer; Mikashmi Kohli; Alain B Labrique; Lai-Meng Looi; John G Meara; John Nkengasong; Madhukar Pai; Kara-Lee Pool; Kaushik Ramaiya; Lee Schroeder; Devanshi Shah; Richard Sullivan; Bien-Soo Tan; Kamini Walia Journal: Lancet Date: 2021-10-06 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Kirstyn Brunker; Gurdeep Jaswant; S M Thumbi; Kennedy Lushasi; Ahmed Lugelo; Anna M Czupryna; Fred Ade; Gati Wambura; Veronicah Chuchu; Rachel Steenson; Chanasa Ngeleja; Criselda Bautista; Daria L Manalo; Ma Ricci R Gomez; Maria Yna Joyce V Chu; Mary Elizabeth Miranda; Maya Kamat; Kristyna Rysava; Jason Espineda; Eva Angelica V Silo; Ariane Mae Aringo; Rona P Bernales; Florencio F Adonay; Michael J Tildesley; Denise A Marston; Daisy L Jennings; Anthony R Fooks; Wenlong Zhu; Luke W Meredith; Sarah C Hill; Radoslaw Poplawski; Robert J Gifford; Joshua B Singer; Mathew Maturi; Athman Mwatondo; Roman Biek; Katie Hampson Journal: Wellcome Open Res Date: 2020-05-19