Alhassan Abdul-Mumin1,2, Cesia Cotache-Condor3, Sheila A Owusu2, Andie Grimm3, Haruna Mahama4, Naomi Wright5, Francis A Abantanga1,2, Emily R Smith6,7, Stephen Tabiri1,2. 1. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2. Tamale Teaching Hospital, Salaga Road, Tamale, Ghana. 3. Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Services, Baylor University, 1621 S. 5th Street, Waco, TX, 76706, USA. 4. Sissala West District Hospital, Upper West Region, Gwollu, Ghana. 5. King's Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Science, King's College London, London, SE5 9RJ, UK. 6. Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Services, Baylor University, 1621 S. 5th Street, Waco, TX, 76706, USA. Emily_R_Smith@baylor.edu. 7. Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. Emily_R_Smith@baylor.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology and referral patterns of gastroschisis patients in northern Ghana. METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective review was undertaken at Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2019. Data from gastroschisis patients were compared to patients with other surgical diagnoses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with SAS. Referral flow maps were made with ArcGIS. RESULTS: From a total of 360 neonates admitted with surgical conditions, 12 (3%) were diagnosed with gastroschisis. Around 91% (n = 10) of gastroschisis patients were referred from other hospitals, traveling 4 h, on average. Referral patterns showed gastroschisis patients were admitted from three regions, whereas patients with other surgical diagnoses were admitted from eight regions. Only 6% (12/201) of expected gastroschisis cases were reported during the 6-year period in all regions. All gastroschisis deaths occurred within the first week of life. CONCLUSIONS: Improving access to surgical care and reducing neonatal mortality related to gastroschisis in northern Ghana is critical. This study provides a baseline to inform future gastroschisis interventions at TTH. Priority areas may include special management of low birth weight newborns, better referral systems, empowerment of community health workers, and increasing access to timely, affordable, and safe neonatal transport.
PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology and referral patterns of gastroschisispatients in northern Ghana. METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective review was undertaken at Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2019. Data from gastroschisispatients were compared to patients with other surgical diagnoses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with SAS. Referral flow maps were made with ArcGIS. RESULTS: From a total of 360 neonates admitted with surgical conditions, 12 (3%) were diagnosed with gastroschisis. Around 91% (n = 10) of gastroschisispatients were referred from other hospitals, traveling 4 h, on average. Referral patterns showed gastroschisispatients were admitted from three regions, whereas patients with other surgical diagnoses were admitted from eight regions. Only 6% (12/201) of expected gastroschisis cases were reported during the 6-year period in all regions. All gastroschisis deaths occurred within the first week of life. CONCLUSIONS: Improving access to surgical care and reducing neonatal mortality related to gastroschisis in northern Ghana is critical. This study provides a baseline to inform future gastroschisis interventions at TTH. Priority areas may include special management of low birth weight newborns, better referral systems, empowerment of community health workers, and increasing access to timely, affordable, and safe neonatal transport.
Entities:
Keywords:
Gastroschisis epidemiology; Northern Ghana; Pediatric surgery; Referral system
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