In a bid to provide more accurate data for healthcare policy-making in Nigeria, a comprehensive community-based study was conducted to assess the prevalence of common surgical conditions among adults. Unlike hospital-based records that often lack comprehensive community representation, this study offers critical insights that could influence resource allocation and healthcare prioritization in low- and middle-income countries.
Methodology and Data Collection
The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design to evaluate the prevalence of both congenital and acquired surgical conditions among adults in the mixed rural-urban area of Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State. A modified version of the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey tool was employed to gather data from 856 households, yielding responses from 1,992 adults. The data were meticulously analyzed using the REDCap analytic tool, ensuring reliable and comprehensive results.
Key Findings
From the surveyed households, 95 adults reported surgical conditions, leading to a prevalence rate of 5%. The vast majority of these cases involved acquired deformities, with only one instance of a congenital deformity. Other significant findings included reports of breast lumps, anterior neck swellings, and groin swellings. These conditions highlight the critical need for surgical care in the region. Additionally, with an estimated adult population of 90 million and approximately 1,200 orthopedic and general surgeons available, the surgeon-to-affected population ratio stands at a concerning 1:10,000.
This gap in surgical manpower underscores the urgent need for policy interventions aimed at developing surgical capacity. Effective market access strategies are crucial to ensure that the necessary surgical services and medical supplies reach this underserved population.
Implications and Inferences
The findings of this study carry significant implications for market access in Nigeria’s healthcare sector:
- There is a critical demand for increased surgical training programs to boost the number of qualified surgeons.
- Enhanced healthcare policies are needed to improve the distribution of surgical resources across both rural and urban areas.
- Investment in healthcare infrastructure is essential to address the prevalent surgical conditions effectively.
To bridge the gap between the supply of surgical care and the demand in Nigeria, concerted efforts must be made to improve market access and healthcare resource allocation. The study’s findings can guide policymakers in aligning healthcare priorities with the actual needs of the community, ensuring a more sustainable and effective healthcare system.
Original Article:
West Afr J Med. 2024 Apr 30;41(4):436-451.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Community-based prevalence studies are known to be more accurate than hospital-based records. However, such community-based prevalence studies are uncommon in low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria. Allocation of resources and prioritization of health care needs by policy makers require data from such community-based studies to be meaningful and sustainable. This study aims to assess the prevalence of common surgical conditions amongst adults in Nigeria.
METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional community-based study to determine the prevalence of congenital and acquired surgical conditions in adults in a mixed rural-urban area of Lagos was conducted. The study population comprised resident members in the Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State. Data was collected using a modified version of the interviewer-administered questionnaire, the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey tool. Data was analysed using the REDCap analytic tool.
RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifty-six households were surveyed with a yield of 1,992 adults. There were 95 adults who complained of surgical conditions giving a prevalence rate of 5%. Vast majority of reported conditions were acquired deformities (n=94) while only 1 congenital deformity was reported. Others included breast lumps, anterior neck swelling, and groin swellings.
CONCLUSION: The most common surgical complaints in our setting among adults were acquired conditions of the extremities and open wounds/sores. With an estimated population of 90 million adults and approximately 1,200 orthopaedic and general surgeons respectively, the surgeon-to-affected population ratio is 1:10,000. There is a large gap to be filled in terms of surgical manpower development.
PMID:39003518
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