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Cryptococcal meningitis is the most frequent form of meningitis among adults in sub-Saharan Africa (1-4) and accounts for 20%-25% of AIDS-related deaths in Africa (5-7). Although culture is the standard [...]

In most low-and middle-income countries, trauma registries are uncommon. Although institutional registries for all trauma patients are ideal, it can be more practical to institute departmental registries for specific subsets of patients. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has started a locally developed, self-funded orthopaedic trauma registry. We describe methods and experiences for data collection and examine patient and injury characteristics, data quality, and the utility of the registry. Of 961 individuals in the registry, 67.9% were males, and the median age was 40 years. Motor vehicle collision (23.3%) was the most frequent mechanism of injury. Lower extremity fractures were the most common injury (60.6%), and 43.9% of injuries were managed operatively. Data quality was reasonable with missingness under 10% for 13 of 14 key variables, with inconsistencies of dates of injury, admission, treatment, and discharge in 9.1% of cases. However, the type of operation was missing for 73.2% of operative cases. Despite these limitations, the registry has been used for quality improvement and to successfully advocate for resources to improve trauma care. The registry has been improved by adding more detailed outcome variables, creating a standardised codebook of categorical variables, and adding more fields to allow for multiple injuries. In conclusion, it is practical and sustainable to institute a locally developed, self-funded orthopaedic trauma registry in Ghana that provides data with reasonable quality. Such a registry can be used to advocate for more resources to care for injured patients adequately and for quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To quantify the burden of surgical conditions in Uganda. Background: Data on the burden of disease have long served as a cornerstone to health policymaking, planning, and resource allocation. Population-based data are the gold standard, but no data on surgical burden at a national scale exist; therefore, we adapted the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need survey and conducted a nation-wide, cross-sectional survey of Uganda to quantify the burden of surgically treatable conditions. Methods: The 2-stage cluster sample included 105 enumeration areas, representing 74 districts and Kampala Capital City Authority. Enumeration occurred from August 20 to September 12, 2014. In each enumeration area, 24 households were randomly selected; the head of the household provided details regarding any household deaths within the previous 12 months. Two household members were randomly selected for a head-to-toe verbal interview to determine existing untreated and treated surgical conditions. Results: In 2315 households, we surveyed 4248 individuals: 461 (10.6%) reported 1 or more conditions requiring at least surgical consultation [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.9%-12.4%]. The most frequent barrier to surgical care was the lack of financial resources for the direct cost of care. Of the 153 household deaths recalled, 53 deaths (34.2%; 95% CI 22.1%-46.3%) were associated with surgically treatable signs/symptoms. Shortage of time was the most frequently cited reason (25.8%) among the 11.6% household deaths that should have, but did not, receive surgical care (95% CI 6.4%-16.8%). Conclusions: Unmet surgical need is prevalent in Uganda. There is an urgent need to expand the surgical care delivery system starting with the district-level hospitals. Routine surgical data collection at both the health facility and household level should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: According to recent estimates, at least 11% of the total global burden of disease is attributable to surgically-treatable diseases. In children, the burden is even more striking with up to 85% of children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) having a surgically-treatable condition by age 15. Using population data from four countries, we estimated pediatric surgical needs amongst children residing in LMICs. Methods: A cluster randomized cross-sectional countrywide household survey (Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need) was done in four countries (Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Nepal and Uganda) and included demographics, a verbal head to toe examination, and questions on access to care. Global estimates regarding surgical need among children were derived from combined data, accounting for country-level clustering. Results: A total of 13,806 participants were surveyed and 6,361 (46.1%) were children (0–18 years of age) with median age of 8 (Interquartile range [IQR]: 4–13) years. Overall, 19% (1,181/6,361) of children had a surgical need and 62% (738/1,181) of these children had at least one unmet need. Based on these estimates, the number of children living with a surgical need in these four LMICs is estimated at 3.7 million (95% CI: 3.4, 4.0 million). The highest percentage of unmet surgical conditions included head, face, and neck conditions, followed by conditions in the extremities. Over a third of the untreated conditions were masses while the overwhelming majority of treated conditions in all countries were wounds or burns. Conclusion: Surgery has been elevated as an “indivisible, indispensable part of health care” in LMICs and the newly formed 2015 Sustainable Development Goals are noted as unachievable without the provision of surgical care. Given the large burden of pediatric surgical conditions in LMICs, scale-up of services for children is an essential component to improve pediatric health in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]