Open AccessEstimates of Treatable Deaths Within the First 20 Years of Life from Scaling Up Surgical Care at First‐Level Hospitals in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
Author(s) -
Sykes Alicia G.,
SeyiOlajide Justina,
Ameh Emmanuel A.,
Ozgediz Doruk,
Abbas Alizeh,
Abib Simone,
Ademuyiwa Adesoji,
Ali Abdelbasit,
Aziz Tasmiah Tahera,
Chowdhury Tanvir Kabir,
Abdelhafeez Hafeez,
Ignacio Romeo C.,
Keller Benjamin,
Klazura Greg,
Kling Karen,
Martin Benjamin,
Philipo Godfrey Sama,
Thangarajah Hariharan,
Yap Ava,
Meara John G.,
Bundy Donald A. P.,
Jamison Dean T.,
Mock Charles N.,
Bickler Stephen W.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
world journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1432-2323
pISSN - 0364-2313
DOI - 10.1007/s00268-022-06622-w
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , pediatrics , asphyxia , health care , disease , low and middle income countries , emergency medicine , developing country , economics , economic growth
Background Surgical care is an important, yet often neglected component of child health in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). This study examines the potential impact of scaling up surgical care at first‐level hospitals in LMICs within the first 20 years of life. Methods Epidemiological data from the global burden of disease 2019 Study and a counterfactual method developed for the disease control priorities; 3rd Edition were used to estimate the number of treatable deaths in the under 20 year age group if surgical care could be scaled up at first‐level hospitals. Our model included three digestive diseases, four maternal and neonatal conditions, and seven common traumatic injuries. Results An estimated 314,609 (95% UI, 239,619–402,005) deaths per year in the under 20 year age group could be averted if surgical care were scaled up at first‐level hospitals in LMICs. Most of the treatable deaths are in the under‐5 year age group (80.9%) and relates to improved obstetrical care and its effect on reducing neonatal encephalopathy due to birth asphyxia and trauma. Injuries are the leading cause of treatable deaths after age 5 years. Sixty‐one percent of the treatable deaths occur in lower middle‐income countries. Overall, scaling up surgical care at first‐level hospitals could avert 5·1% of the total deaths in children and adolescents under 20 years of age in LMICs per year. Conclusions Improving the capacity of surgical services at first‐level hospitals in LMICs has the potential to avert many deaths within the first 20 years of life.