Geospatial analysis of unmet pediatric surgical need in Uganda

Emily R. Smith, Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci, Thiago Augusto Hernandes Rocha, Tu M. Tran, Anthony T. Fuller, Elissa K. Butler, Luciano de Andrade, Fredrick Makumbi, Samuel Luboga, Christine Muhumuza, Didacus B. Namanya, Jeffrey G. Chipman, Moses Galukande, Michael M. Haglund

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

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 14.97 km (95% CI: 11.29 km–16.89 km). 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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1691-1698
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Pediatric Surgery
Volume52
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

  • Community survey
  • Disease burden
  • Geospatial
  • Global surgery
  • Low- and middle-income countries
  • SOSAS
  • Sub-Saharan Africa

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Geospatial analysis of unmet pediatric surgical need in Uganda'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this