IngentaConnect Surgery in Malawi a national survey of activity in rural and urba...

Authors: Lavy, Chris¹; Tindall, Alistair¹; Steinlechner, Colin¹; Mkandawire, Nyengo¹; Chimangeni, Sandy¹

Source: Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Volume 89, Number 7, October 2007 , pp. 722-724(3)

Publisher: The Royal College of Surgeons of England

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Malawi is a poor country with few doctors. It has 21 district hospitals all of which have operating theatres but none of which has a permanent surgeon. It also has 4 central hospitals, each with one or more surgeons. Most district hospitals are manned by a single doctor and two or more paramedical clinical officers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All district and central hospitals were visited, and theatre logbooks analysed. All cases performed in 2003 were recorded.

RESULTS: In 2003, a total of 48,696 surgical operations were recorded, of which 25,053 were performed in 21 district hospitals and 23,643 in 4 central hospitals. Caesarean section is the commonest major surgical procedure in district hospitals and is performed in approximately 2.8% of all births, compared to 22% in the UK. Very few major general surgical or orthopaedic procedures are carried out in district hospitals.

CONCLUSION: This study underlines Malawi's need for more surgeons to be trained and retained.

Keywords: AUDIT; SURGERY; MALAWI

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1308/003588407X209329

Affiliations: 1: Beit Cure Orthopaedic Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

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Surgery in Malawi - a national survey of activity in rural and urban hospitals