Retrospective review of antimicrobial use for gastroschisis patients in Kigali, Rwanda: can improved stewardship reduce late inpatient deaths?

Gastroschisis mortality is 75-100% in low-resource settings. In Rwanda, late deaths are often due to sepsis. We aimed to understand the effect of antimicrobial use on survival. We conducted a retrospective review of gastroschisis patients at a tertiary hospital in Kigali, Rwanda between January 2016-June 2019. Demographics, antimicrobial use, microbiology, and outcomes were abstracted. Descriptive and univariate analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with improved survival. Among 92 gastroschisis patients, mortality was 77%(n = 71); 23%(n = 21) died within 48 h. 98%(n = 90) of patients received antibiotics on arrival. Positive blood cultures were obtained in 41%(n = 38). Patients spent 86%(SD = 20%) of their hospital stay on antibiotics and 38%(n = 35) received second-line agents. There was no difference in age at arrival, birth weight, gestational age, silo complications, or antimicrobial selection between survivors and non-survivors. Late death patients spent more total hospital days and post-abdominal closure days on antibiotics (p < 0.001) compared to survivors. There was no difference in the proportion of hospital stay on second-line antibiotics (p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: We identified frequent late deaths, prolonged antibiotic courses, and regular use of second-line antibiotic agents in this retrospective cohort of Rwandan gastroschisis patients. Future studies are needed to evaluate antimicrobial resistance in pediatric surgical patients in Rwanda. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Global disparities in gastroschisis outcomes are extreme, with <4% mortality in high-income settings and 75-100% mortality in low-income settings. • Antimicrobial surveillance data is sparse across Africa, but existing evidence suggests high levels of resistance to first-line antibiotics in Rwanda. WHAT IS NEW: • In-hospital survival for gastroschisis was 23% from 2016-2019 and most deaths occurred late (>48hrs after admission) due to sepsis. • Rwandan gastroschisis patients received prolonged courses of antibiotics and second-line antibiotics were frequently used without culture data, raising concern for antimicrobial resistance.

Predictors of Survival: A Retrospective Review of Gastroschisis and Intestinal Atresia in Rwanda.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal surgical diseases are prime examples of the global disparity in surgical access and outcomes, with survival for conditions like gastroschisis reaching above 95% in high-income settings but usually fatal in low-income settings. This study aims to examine outcomes and predictors of mortality in patients with two specific neonatal surgical conditions that often require early transfer and prolonged inpatient care (gastroschisis and intestinal atresia) at Rwanda's main pediatric referral hospital. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective chart review of neonates with gastroschisis and intestinal atresia was conducted between January 2016 and June 2019. Abstracted data included demographics, referral history, admission interventions, operative details, in-hospital complications, nutrition patterns, length of stay, and mortality. Daily logs were created to evaluate feeding status, infection status, and antibiotic usage. Descriptive and univariate analysis was conducted, with the primary outcome being survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients met inclusion criteria (82% gastroschisis [n = 92] and 18% intestinal atresia [n = 20]). Median age at arrival was 0 d (GS) [IQR 0-1 d] and 8.5 d (IA) [IQR 4-10 d] (P < 0.0001). Survival to discharge was 22.8% (GS) (n = 21) and 60% (IA) (n = 12) with a mean length of stay of 28.3 d (GS) and 18.4 d (IA). The median number of days to initiation of oral feeds was 8.5 d [IQR 7-11] for gastroschisis survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal surgical conditions that require early transfer and prolonged nutritional intervention are challenging in low-resource settings, but through treatment by a comprehensive pediatric surgical service, improving survival is possible.

An OxPLORE Initiative Evaluating Children's Surgery Resources Worldwide: A Cross-sectional Implementation of the OReCS Document.

BACKGROUND: The Global Initiative for Children's Surgery (GICS) group produced the Optimal Resources for Children's Surgery (OReCS) document in 2019, listing standards of children's surgical care by level of healthcare facilities within low resource settings. We have previously created and piloted an audit tool based on the OReCS criteria in a high-income setting. In this study, we aimed to validate its use in identifying gaps in children's surgery provision worldwide. METHODS: Our OReCS audit tool was implemented in 10 hospitals providing children's surgery across eight countries. Collaborators were recruited via the Oxford Paediatrics Linking Our Research with Electives (OxPLORE) international network of medical students and trainees. The audit tool measured a hospital's current capacity for children's surgery. Data were analysed firstly to express the percentage of 'essential' criteria met for each specialty. Secondly, the 'OxPLORE method' was used to allocate each hospital specialty a level based on procedures performed and resources available. A User Evaluation Tool (UET) was developed to obtain feedback on the ease of use of the tool. RESULTS: The percentage of essential criteria met within each category varied widely between hospitals. The level given to hospitals for subspecialties based on OReCS criteria often did not reflect their self-defined level. The UET indicated the audit tool was practicable across multiple settings. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of the OReCS criteria to identify areas for local hospital improvement and inform national children's surgical plans. We have made informed suggestions to increase usability of the OReCS audit tool.

Developing Sustainable Prehospital Pediatric Care in Rwanda.

OBJECTIVE: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children older than 1 year and disproportionately affects pediatric patients in low- and middle-income countries.Improved prehospital care capacity has demonstrated the ability to improve care and save lives. Our collaboration developed and implemented a sustainable prehospital emergency pediatrics care course (EPCC) for Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente, the public emergency medical service in Rwanda. METHODS: A 1-day context-specific EPCC was developed based on international best practices and local feedback. Two cohorts were created to participate in the course. The first group, EPCC 1, was made of 22 Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente providers with preexisting knowledge on the topic who participated in the course and received training to lead future sessions. After completion of the EPCC1, this group led the second cohort, EPCC 2, which was composed of 26 healthcare providers from around Rwanda. Each group completed a 50 question assessment before and after the course. RESULTS: Emergency pediatrics care course 1 mean scores were 58% vs 98% (pre vs post), EPCC 2 mean scores were 49% vs 98% (pre vs post), using matched-pair analysis of 22 and 32 participants, respectively. When comparing unequal variances across the groups with a 2-tailed paired t test, EPCC 1 and EPCC 2 had a statistically significant mean change in pretest and posttest assessment test scores of 40% compared with 46%, P < 0.0001, with 95% confidence interval. A 1-way analysis of variance mean square analysis for the change in scores showed that regardless of the baseline level of training for each participant, all trainees reached similar postassessment scores (F(1) = 1.45, P = 0.2357). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates effective implementation of a context-appropriate prehospital pediatric training program in Kigali, Rwanda. This program may be effective to support capacity development for prehospital care in Rwanda using a qualified local source of instructors.

Should We Offer Surgery for Biliary Atresia in Low-Resource Settings? Surgical Outcomes in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: In many resource-limited settings, patients with biliary atresia present too late for surgical correction to be offered, and the diagnosis is fatal. As pediatric surgical and anesthesia capabilities have improved, patients in Rwanda have been offered surgical exploration. This study explores initial outcomes. METHODS: Patients presenting with direct hyperbilirubinemia and clinical suspicion of biliary atresia were identified at the main university teaching hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, from January 2016 to June 2019. Patient demographics, referral history, geographic location, preoperative imaging, preoperative laboratory studies, operative details, postoperative laboratory studies, in-hospital complications, length of stay, and survival were abstracted from retrospective chart review. Descriptive analysis was performed, and univariate analysis evaluated survival and complications. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were identified with biliary atresia, and thirteen were offered surgery. The median age of admission was 77 d (interquartile range [IQR] 63-92 d), with the median time wait for the operation being 19 d (IQR 9-27 d). The median age at operation was 93 d (IQR 76-123 d). In-hospital postoperative mortality was 15.4% (n = 2) and postoperative complications occurred in 46.2% (n = 6). Eleven patients survived to hospital discharge (84.6%), with a median length of stay of 8 d (IQR 6-13 d). CONCLUSIONS: While future studies are needed to evaluate the long-term outcomes, this series shows that surgical treatment of biliary atresia can be safely performed in Rwanda. Early referral of direct hyperbilirubinemia is essential, particularly as limited resources and personnel may impact the time from diagnosis to operation.

Prehospital epidemiology and management of injured children in Kigali, Rwanda.

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric injuries are a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide, yet little information exists regarding its epidemiology or prehospital management in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to describe the paediatric injuries seen and managed by the prehospital ambulance service, Service d'Aide Medicale d'Urgence (SAMU), in Kigali, Rwanda over more than 3 years. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive analysis was conducted of all injured children managed by SAMU in the prehospital setting between December 2012 and April 2016. RESULTS: SAMU responded to a total of 636 injured children, 10% of all patients seen. The incidence of paediatric injury in Kigali, Rwanda was 140 injuries per 100 000 children. 65% were male and the average age 13.5 (±5.3). Most patients were between 15 and 19 years old (56%). The most common causes of injuries were road traffic incidents (RTIs) (447, 72%), falls (70, 11%) and assaults (50, 8%). Most RTIs involved pedestrians (251, 56%), while 15% (65) involved a bicycle. Anatomical injuries included trauma to the head (330, 52%), lower limb (280, 44%) and upper limb (179, 28%). Common interventions included provision of pain medications (445, 70%), intravenous fluids (217, 34%) and stabilisation with cervical collar (190, 30%). CONCLUSION: In Kigali, RTIs were the most frequent cause of injuries to children requiring prehospital response with most RTIs involving pedestrians. Rwanda has recently instituted several programmes to reduce the impact of paediatric injuries especially with regard to RTIs. These include changes in traffic laws and increased road safety initiatives.

Validation of a community-based survey assessing non-obstetric surgical conditions in Burera District, Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Community-based surveillance methods to monitor epidemiological progress in surgery have not yet been employed for surgical capacity building. The aim of this study was to create and assess the validity of a questionnaire that collected data for untreated surgically correctable diseases throughout Burera District, northern Rwanda, to accurately plan for surgical services. METHODS: A structured interview to assess for the presence or absence of ten index surgically treatable conditions (breast mass, cleft lip/palate, club foot, hernia or hydrocele [adult and paediatric]), hydrocephalus, hypospadias, injuries or wounds, neck mass, undescended testes, and vaginal fistula) was created. The interview was built based on previously validated questionnaires, forward and back translated into the local language and underwent focus group augmentation and pilot testing. In March and May, 2012, data collectors conducted the structured interviews with a household representative in 30 villages throughout Burera District, selected using a two-stage cluster sampling design. Rwandan physicians revisited the surveyed households to perform physical examinations on all household members, used as the gold standard to validate the structured interview. Ethical approval was obtained from Boston Children's Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) and the Rwandan National Ethics Committee (Kigali, Rwanda). Informed consent was obtained from all households. FINDINGS: 2990 individuals were surveyed, a 97% response rate. 2094 (70%) individuals were available for physical examination. The calculated overall sensitivity of the structured interview tool was 44·5% (95% CI 38·9-50·2) and the specificity was 97·7% (96·9-98·3%; appendix). The positive predictive value was 70% (95% CI 60·5-73·5), whereas the negative predictive value was 91·3% (90·0-92·5). The conditions with the highest sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were hydrocephalus (100% and 100%), clubfoot (100% and 99·8%), injuries or wounds (54·7% and 98·9%), and hypospadias (50% and 100%). Injuries or wounds and hernias or hydroceles were the conditions most frequently identified on examination that were not reported during the interview (appendix). INTERPRETATION: To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first attempt to validate a community-based surgical surveillance tool. The finding of low sensitivity limits the use of the tool, which will require further revision, and calls into question previously published unvalidated community surgical survey data. To improve validation of community-based surveys, community education efforts on common surgically treatable conditions are needed in conjunction with increased access to surgical care. Accurate community-based surveys are crucial to integrated health system planning that includes surgical care as a core component. FUNDING: The Harvard Sheldon Traveling Fellowship.

Epidemiology of untreated non-obstetric surgical disease in Burera District, Rwanda: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: In low-income and middle-income countries, surgical epidemiology is largely undefined at the population level, with operative logs and hospital records serving as a proxy. This study assesses the distribution of surgical conditions that contribute the largest burden of surgical disease in Burera District, in northern Rwanda. We hypothesise that our results would yield higher rates of surgical disease than current estimates (from 2006) for similar low-income countries, which are 295 per 100 000 people. METHODS: In March and May, 2012, we performed a cross-sectional study in Burera District, randomly sampling 30 villages with probability proportionate to size and randomly sampling 23 households within the selected villages. Six Rwandan surgical postgraduates and physicians conducted physical examinations on all eligible participants in sampled households. Participants were assessed for injuries or wounds, hernias, hydroceles, breast mass, neck mass, obstetric fistula, undescended testes, hypospadias, hydrocephalus, cleft lip or palate, and club foot. Ethical approval was obtained from Boston Children's Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) and the Rwandan National Ethics Committee (Kigali, Rwanda). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. FINDINGS: Of the 2165 examined individuals, the overall prevalence of any surgical condition was 12% (95% CI 9·2-14·9) or 12 009 per 100 000 people. Injuries or wounds accounted for 55% of the prevalence and hernias or hydroceles accounted for 40%, followed by neck mass (4·2%), undescended testes (1·9%), breast mass (1·2%), club foot (1%), hypospadias (0·6%), hydrocephalus (0·6%), cleft lip or palate (0%), and obstetric fistula (0%). When comparing study participant characteristics, no statistical difference in overall prevalence was noted when examining sex, wealth, education, and travel time to the nearest hospital. Total rates of surgically treatable disease yielded a statistically significant difference compared with current estimates (p<0·001). INTERPRETATION: Rates of surgically treatable disease are significantly higher than previous estimates in comparable low-income countries. The prevalence of surgically treatable disease is evenly distributed across demographic parameters. From these results, we conclude that strengthening the Rwandan health system's surgical capacity, particularly in rural areas, could have meaningful affect on the entire population. Further community-based surgical epidemiological studies are needed in low-income and middle-income countries to provide the best data available for health system planning. FUNDING: The Harvard Sheldon Traveling Fellowship.

Injury, disability and access to care in Rwanda: results of a nationwide cross-sectional population study.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in access to quality injury care are a growing concern worldwide, with over 90 % of global injury-related morbidity and mortality occurring in low-income countries. We describe the use of a survey tool that evaluates the prevalence of surgical conditions at the population level, with a focus on the burden of traumatic injuries, subsequent disabilities, and barriers to injury care in Rwanda. METHODS: The Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) tool is a cross-sectional, cluster-based population survey designed to measure conditions that may necessitate surgical consultation or intervention. Questions are structured anatomically and designed around a representative spectrum of surgical conditions. Households in Rwanda were sampled using two-stage cluster sampling, and interviews were conducted over a one-month period in 52 villages nationwide, with representation of all 30 administrative districts. Injury-related results were descriptively analyzed and population-weighted by age and gender. RESULTS: A total of 1,627 households (3,175 individuals) were sampled; 1,185 lifetime injury-related surgical conditions were reported, with 38 % resulting in some form of perceived disability. Of the population, 27.4 % had ever had a serious injury-related condition, with 2.8 % having an injury-related condition at the time of interview. Over 30 % of household deaths in the previous year may have been surgically treatable, but only 4 % were injury-related. CONCLUSIONS: Determining accurate injury and disability burden is crucial to health system planning in low-income countries. SOSAS is a useful survey for determining injury epidemiology at the community level, which can in turn help to plan prevention efforts and optimize provision of care.

Adaptation and validation of the Children's Surgical Assessment Tool for Rwandan district hospitals.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paediatric surgical care is a critical component of child health and basic universal health coverage and therefore should be included in comprehensive evaluations of surgical capacity. This study adapted and validated the Children's Surgical Assessment Tool (CSAT), a tool developed for district and tertiary hospitals in Nigeria to evaluate hospital infrastructure, workforce, service delivery, financing, and training capacity for paediatric surgery, for use in district hospitals in Rwanda. METHODS: We used a three-round modified Delphi process to adapt the CSAT to the Rwandan context. An expert panel of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, paediatricians, and health systems strengthening experts were invited to participate based on their experience with paediatric surgical or anaesthetic care at district hospitals or with health systems strengthening in the Rwandan context. We used the Content Validity Index to validate the final tool. RESULTS: The adapted tool had a final score of 0.84 on the Content Validity Index, indicating a high level of agreement among the expert panel. The final tool comprised 171 items across five domains: facility characteristics, service delivery, workforce, financing, and training/research. CONCLUSION: The adapted CSAT is appropriate for use in district hospitals in Rwanda to evaluate the capacity for paediatric surgery. This study provides a framework for adapting and validating a comprehensive paediatric surgical assessment tool to local contexts in LMICs and used in similar settings in sub-Saharan Africa.

Collaboration in surgical capacity development: a report of the inaugural meeting of the Strengthening Rwanda Surgery initiative.

BACKGROUND: Increasing access to surgical care is among the prioritized healthcare initiatives in Rwanda and other low income countries, where only 3.5 % of surgical procedures worldwide are being performed. Partnerships among surgeons at academic medical centers, non-governmental organizations, and representatives of industry for building sustainable local surgical capacity in developing settings should be explored. METHODS: With the goal of improving collaboration and coordination among the many stakeholders in Rwandan surgery, the Rwanda Surgical Society (RSS) convened a participatory workshop of these groups in Kigali in March 2011. The meeting consisted of presentations from Rwandan surgical leaders and focused brainstorming sessions on collaborative methods for surgical capacity building. RESULTS: The outcome of the meeting was a set of recommendations to the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MOH) and the formation of an ad hoc team, the Strengthening Rwanda Surgery (SRS) Advising Group. The inaugural meeting of the advising group served to establish common goals, a framework for ongoing communication and collaboration, and commitment to a fully Rwandan agenda for surgical and anesthesia capacity development. The SRS Advising Group continues to meet and collaborate on training initiatives and has been integrated into the MOH plan to scale up human resources across disciplines. CONCLUSIONS: The SRS Initiative serves as an example of the concept of early communication and international collaboration in global surgical and anesthesia capacity building partnerships.

Pediatric intestinal obstruction: analysis of etiologies and factors influencing short-term outcomes in Rwanda.

Background: Intestinal obstruction is a common presentation in pediatric surgical emergencies and presents with different etiologies depending on country or region. Its morbidity and mortality are high in low-income and middle-income countries, with variable influencing factors. The aims of this study were to determine the etiologies, morbidity and mortality of pediatric intestinal obstruction and to assess the factors associated with the outcomes of these conditions in Rwanda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on pediatric patients with intestinal obstruction in two Rwandan university teaching hospitals. The patients were followed from admission until discharge, and we documented their basic characteristics, diagnosis, operative details and postoperative outcomes. Data were collected using data collection form and were electronically captured and analysed using SPSS software. Results: A total of 65 patients were enrolled in this study. They were predominantly male (n=49, 75.4%), and the majority of patients (86.2%) were below age 6 years. Intussusception was the most common etiology (n=22, 33.8%). Other common etiologies were Hirschsprung's disease (n=13, 20%), incarcerated inguinal and umbilical hernias (n=6, 9.2%), intestinal worms' impaction (n=5, 7.7%) and adhesions (n=5, 7.7%). Mortality and morbidity were 9.2% and 39.7%, respectively. The most common complications were surgical site infection (n=6, 9.5%) and sepsis (n=6, 9.5%). Preoperative anemia (p=0.001), finding of gangrenous bowels (p=0.003) and bowel resection at the time of laparotomy (p=0.039) were factors associated with postoperative complications. Conclusions: The etiologies of intestinal obstruction are variable and common in children below 6 years in Rwanda. The associated morbidly is high and is influenced by the preoperative anemia, finding of gangrenous bowels and bowel resection.

Teaching Thoracic Surgery in a Low-Resource Setting:: Creation of a Simulation Curriculum in Rwanda.

Surgical education and global health partnerships have evolved over the years. There is growing recognition of the importance of in-country training of surgeons and surgeon specialists in low-resource settings to support the local health care system. There are numerous ways in which high-income partners can support local training programs. The Human Resources for Health program was initiated in 2012 to advance in-country training of health care professionals in Rwanda. As there was a limited in-country operative experience for teaching general thoracic surgery, simulation models were developed, influenced by a prior course developed for American cardiothoracic trainees. Local Rwandan faculty were engaged. Adaptations from the American version included constructing models from inexpensive materials to make the simulation more feasible in the Rwanda setting.

Exploring the lived experiences of parents caring for infants with gastroschisis in Rwanda: The untold story.

Pediatric surgery is a crucial pillar of health equity but is often not prioritized in the global health agenda, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Gastroschisis (GS) is a type of structural congenital anomaly that can be treated through surgical interventions. In Rwanda, neonatal surgical care is only available in one hospital. The experience of parents of children born with gastroschisis has not been previously studied in Rwanda. The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of parents of children diagnosed with GS in Rwanda. A qualitative study using a semi-structured interview guide was conducted. Parents who had children with gastroschisis and were discharged alive from the hospital in Rwanda were interviewed by trained data collectors, from May to July 2021. Data were transcribed, translated, and then coded using a structured code-book. Thematic analysis was conducted with the use of Dedoose software. Sixteen parents participated in the study. Five themes emerged from the data. They were: "GS diagnosis had a significant emotional impact on the parents", "Parents were content with the life-saving medical care provided for their children despite some dissatisfaction due to the delayed initiation of care and shortage of medications", "GS care was accompanied by financial challenges", "support systems were important coping mechanisms" and "the impact of GS care extended into the post-discharge period". Having a newborn with GS was an emotional journey. The lack of pre-knowledge about the condition created a shock to the parents. Parents found support from their faith and other parents with similar experiences. The experiences with the care received were mostly positive. The overall financial burden incurred from the medical treatment and indirect costs was high and extended beyond the hospital stay. Strengthening prenatal and hospital services, providing peer, spiritual and financial support could enhance the parents' experience.

Calibration and validation of the pediatric resuscitation and trauma outcome model among injured children in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a leading cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. The Pediatric Resuscitation and Trauma Outcomes (PRESTO) model uses six low-tech variables available at point of care in resource-limited environments to predict in-hospital mortality of injured children. This model was never calibrated and validated in a low-income country. We aimed to calibrate the model's coefficients and compare its performance against the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and Kampala Trauma Score (KTS) using data from a low-income country. STUDY DESIGN: Data from 2011 to 2015 in the prospectively-maintained Rwanda Injury Registry were reviewed after ethical approval was obtained. Patients were included for analysis if they were referred or admitted for traumatic injury, were younger than 15 years and if hospital outcomes were recorded. The variables in the PRESTO model include age, hypotension, heart rate, neurological status, oxygen saturation and airway intervention. The outcome of interest was in-hospital death. After calibration, Receiver-Operating-Characteristic curves were constructed to compare the area-under-curve (AUC) of PRESTO, RTS, and KTS with imputation of missing data. Comparisons of the relative AUC's were performed using Delong's test after bootstrapping in the full cohort and in a subset of patients <5 years-old. RESULTS: There were 113 in-hospital deaths out of 1695 included patients (6.7%). The AUC for the PRESTO model was 0.90 (95% CI [0.82-0.91]), higher than for RTS (0.77, 95% CI [0.80-0.97], p < 0.01) but not statistically different from KTS (0.89, 95% CI [0.72-0.82], p = 0.856). In the under-five cohort, the PRESTO model AUC was 0.84 (95% CI [0.75-0.92]), significantly higher than RTS (0.73 95% CI [0.64-0.81], p < 0.01) and KTS (0.58, 95% CI [0.50-0.66], p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PRESTO appears to be the superior benchmarking tool for pediatric patients in a low- and middle-income country context. The PRESTO score outperforms the KTS in children <5 years of age. Further validation of the PRESTO model is needed from other low- and middle-income settings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: case-control (prognostic) study.

Prevalence of Untreated Surgical Conditions in Rural Rwanda: A Population-Based Cross-sectional Study in Burera District.

IMPORTANCE: In low- and middle-income countries, community-level surgical epidemiology is largely undefined. Accurate community-level surgical epidemiology is necessary for surgical health systems planning. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of surgical conditions in Burera District, Northern Province, Rwanda. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional study with a 2-stage cluster sample design (at village and household level) was carried out in Burera District in March and May 2012. A team of surgeons randomly sampled 30 villages with probability proportionate to village population size, then sampled 23 households within each village. All available household members were examined. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The presence of 10 index surgical conditions (injuries/wounds, hernias/hydroceles, breast masses, neck masses, obstetric fistulas, undescended testes, hypospadias, hydrocephalus, cleft lip/palate, and clubfoot) was determined by physical examination. Prevalence was estimated overall and for each condition. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with surgical conditions, accounting for the complex survey design. RESULTS: Of the 2165 examined individuals, 1215 (56.2%) were female. The prevalence of any surgical condition among all examined individuals was 12% (95% CI, 9.2-14.9%). Half of conditions were hernias/hydroceles (49.6%), and 44% were injuries/wounds. In multivariable analysis, children 5 years or younger had twice the odds of having a surgical condition compared with married individuals 21 to 35 years of age (reference group) (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% CI, 1.26-4.04; P = .01). The oldest group, people older than 50 years, also had twice the odds of having a surgical condition compared with the reference group (married, aged >50 years: OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.28-4.23; P = .01; unmarried, aged >50 years: OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.02-5.52; P = .06). Unmarried individuals 21 to 35 years of age and unmarried individuals aged 36 to 50 years had higher odds of a surgical condition compared with the reference group (aged 21-35 years: OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 0.74-3.82; P = .22; aged 36-50 years: OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.29-9.11; P = .02). There was no statistical difference in odds by sex, wealth, education, or travel time to the nearest hospital. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The prevalence of surgically treatable conditions in northern Rwanda was considerably higher than previously estimated modeling and surveys in comparable low- and middle-income countries. This surgical backlog must be addressed in health system plans to increase surgical infrastructure and workforce in rural Africa.

Validation of a community-based survey assessing nonobstetric surgical conditions in Burera District, Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Validated, community-based surveillance methods to monitor epidemiologic progress in surgery have not yet been employed for surgical capacity building. The goal of this study was to create and assess the validity of a community-based questionnaire collecting data on untreated surgically correctable disease throughout Burera District, Rwanda, to accurately plan for surgical services at a district hospital. METHODS: A structured interview to assess for 10 index surgically treatable conditions was created and underwent local focus group and pilot testing. Using a 2-stage cluster sampling design, Rwandan data collectors conducted the structured interview in 30 villages throughout the Burera District. Rwandan physicians revisited the surveyed households to perform physical examinations on all household members, used as the gold standard to validate the structured interview. RESULTS: A total of 2,990 individuals were surveyed and 2,094 (70%) were available for physical examination. The calculated sensitivity and specificity of the survey tool were 44.5% (95% CI, 38.9-50.2%) and 97.7% (95% CI, 96.9-98.3%), respectively. The conditions with the highest sensitivity and specificity were hydrocephalus, clubfoot, and injuries/infections. Injuries/infections and hernias/hydroceles were the conditions most frequently found on examination that were not reported during the interview. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first attempt to validate a community-based surgical surveillance tool. The finding of low sensitivity was likely related to limited access to care and poor health literacy. Accurate community-based surveys are critical to planning integrated health systems that include surgical care as a core component.

Estimating operative disease prevalence in a low-income country: results of a nationwide population survey in Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Operative disease is estimated to contribute to 11% of the global burden of disease, but no studies have correlated this figure to operative burden at the community level. We describe a survey tool that evaluates population-based prevalence of operative conditions and its first full-country implementation in Rwanda. METHODS: The Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey tool is a cross-sectional, cluster-based population survey designed to measure conditions that may necessitate an operative consultation or intervention. Household surveys in Rwanda were conducted in October 2011 in 52 clusters nationwide. Data were population-weighted and analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 1626 households (3175 individuals) were sampled with a 99% response rate. 41.2% (95% confidence interval [95 CI%] 38.8-43.6%) of the population has had at least one operative condition during their lifetime, 14.8% (95% CI 13.3-16.5%) had an operative condition during the previous 12 months, and 6.4% (95% CI 5.6-7.3%) of the population were determined to have a current operative condition. A total of 55.3% of the current operative need was found in female respondents and 40.3% in children younger than 15 years of age. A total of 32.9% of household deaths in the previous year may have been related to operative conditions, and 55.0% of responding households lacked funds for transport to the nearest hospital providing general practitioner operative services. CONCLUSION: The SOSAS survey tool provides important insight into the burden of operative disease in the community. Our results show a high need for operative care, which has important implications for the global operative community as well as for local health system strengthening in Rwanda.