Systematic Review of Met and Unmet Need of Surgical Disease in Rural Sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract

Little is known about the burden of surgical disease in rural sub-Saharan Africa, where district and rural hospitals are the main providers of care. The present study sought to analyze what is known about the met and unmet need of surgical disease. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies of surveys in rural areas, information on surgical admissions, and operations performed within rural and district hospitals. Data were extrapolated to calculate the amount of surgical disease per 100,000 population and the number of operations performed per 100,000 population. These extrapolations were used to estimate the total, the met, and the unmet need of surgical disease. The estimated overall incidence of nonfatal injury is at least 1,690/100,000 population per year. Morbidity as a result of injury is up to 190/100,000 population per year, and the annual mortality from injury is 53–92/100,000. District hospitals perform 6 fracture reductions (95% CI: 0.1–12)/100,000 population per year and 14 laparotomies (95% CI: 7–21)/100,000 per year. The incidence of peritonitis and bowel obstruction is unknown, although it may be as high as 1,364/100,000 population for the acute abdomen. The annual total need for inguinal hernia repair is estimated to be a minimum of 205/100,000 population. The average district hospital performs 30 hernia repairs (95% CI: 18–41)/100,000 population per year, leaving an unmet need of 175/100,000 population annually. District hospitals are not meeting the surgical needs of the populations they serve. Urgent intervention is required to build up their capacity, to train healthcare personnel in safe surgery and anesthesia, and to overcome obstacles to timely emergency care.