Lancet
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Road traffic injury has emerged as a leading cause of mortality, contributing to 2·1% of deaths globally and is predicted to be the third highest contributor to the global burden of mortality by 2020. This major public health problem disproportionately affects low-income and middle-income countries, where such incidents are too often underreported. Our study aims to explore the epidemiology of road traffic injurys in Nepal at a population level via a countrywide study. ⋯ The Association for Academic Surgery and Surgeons OverSeas.
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Case volume per 100 000 population and perioperative mortality rate (POMR) are key indicators to monitor and strengthen surgical services. However, comparisons of POMR have been restricted by absence of standardised approaches to when it is measured, the ideal denominator, need for risk adjustment, and whether data are available. We aimed to address these issues and recommend a minimum dataset by analysing four large mixed surgical datasets, two from well-resourced settings with sophisticated electronic patient information systems and two from resource-limited settings where clinicians maintain locally developed databases. ⋯ None.
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Anecdotal evidence suggests that task-shifting or the redistribution of responsibilities from fully-trained surgeons to clinicians with fewer qualifications could become a major component of surgical care delivery in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our goal was to summarise the scope of surgical task-shifting in LMICs through a systematic review of the medical literature. ⋯ None.
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Women with breast cancer in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for 51% of cases globally and often present with advanced disease. Fear of costs contributes to delay in seeking care, as health expenditures are financially catastrophic for families worldwide. Despite efforts to improve affordability of health care in LMICs, the financial burden of indirect costs (eg, transportation and lost wages) is often overlooked. We aimed to identify and quantify the expenditures of patients seeking breast cancer care in a LMIC. ⋯ Boston Children's Hospital and Partners in Health.
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Financial contribution to global surgery: an analysis of 160 international charitable organisations.
The non-profit and volunteer sector provides substantial contributions to global health. Within the field of surgery, this sector has made notable service contributions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to surgical care is poor. Little is known about financing and funding flows to surgical care in LMICs from both domestic and international sources. Because an estimated 55% of surgical care delivered in LMICs is via charitable organisations, understanding the financial contributions of this sector could provide valuable insight into estimating funding flows and understanding financing priorities in global surgery. ⋯ None.