@article {Lavy:October 2007:0035-8843:722,
	author = "Lavy, Chris",
	author = "Tindall, Alistair",
	author = "Steinlechner, Colin",
	author = "Mkandawire, Nyengo",
	author = "Chimangeni, Sandy",
	title = "Surgery in Malawi a national survey of activity in rural and urban hospitals",
	journal = "Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England",
	volume = "89",
	year = "October 2007",
	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.<P></P>PATIENTS AND METHODS: All district and central hospitals were visited, and theatre logbooks analysed. All cases performed in 2003 were recorded.<P></P>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.<P></P>CONCLUSION: This study underlines Malawi's need for more surgeons to be trained and retained.",
	pages = "722-724(3)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/rcse/arcs/2007/00000089/00000007/art00020"
	doi = "doi:10.1308/003588407X209329"
}