Pediatric surgery in Burkina Faso: capacity, gaps, and challenges
Sophie Inglin1,2, Abou Coulibaly3, Yasmine Yousef4
1Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. sophie.inglin@hug.ch.
Insights
Pediatric surgical care in Burkina Faso is critically lacking in surgeons, specialized infrastructure, and training. Urgent national strategies are needed to improve resources and ensure equitable access to quality pediatric surgery.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Pediatric Surgery
- Healthcare Systems Analysis
Background:
- Burkina Faso experiences significant challenges in providing pediatric surgical care.
- Previous assessments lacked quantitative data on pediatric surgical capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively evaluate the current capacity for pediatric surgery across healthcare facilities in Burkina Faso.
- Identify specific gaps in human resources, material resources, outcomes, accessibility, and education.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was conducted in 26 healthcare facilities.
- The Global Assessment in Pediatric Surgery (GAPS) tool was utilized for evaluation.
Main Results:
- Only 7/26 facilities have a full-time pediatric surgeon.
- Limited specialized infrastructure exists, with dedicated ORs in 2/6 tertiary hospitals.
- Continuing medical education is scarce, with only 1/26 facility offering it to over 50% of professionals.
Conclusions:
- Burkina Faso faces substantial deficits in pediatric surgical human and material resources, alongside inadequate training.
- Addressing these critical gaps is essential for developing a national strategy for equitable pediatric surgical care.
- Improving pediatric surgical capacity is crucial for ensuring quality healthcare access nationwide.
Purpose:
Burkina Faso faces challenges in pediatric surgical care, with apparent gaps in human resources, infrastructure and education. However, no quantitative analysis has been performed to date. This study aims to evaluate the capacity for pediatric surgery across Burkinabé healthcare facilities.
Methods:
This study is a cross-sectional descriptive analysis conducted in 26 healthcare facilities in Burkina Faso, including first-, second-, and third-level hospitals as well as private clinics. It used the Global Assessment in Pediatric Surgery (GAPS) tool to evaluate five domains: human resources, material resources, outcomes, accessibility, and education.
Results:
The study showed significant gaps in pediatric surgical care: A full-time pediatric surgeon is appointed in 7/26 facilities. Specialized infrastructure for pediatric surgery is limited: Operating rooms dedicated to pediatric surgery are observed in 2/6 tertiary hospitals, minimally invasive surgery is available in 3/26 facilities. Education programs were deficient: Continuing medical education to > 50% of professionals is offered in 1/26 facility. 22/26 facilities provided follow-up care for more than 50% of their patients.
Conclusion:
Burkina Faso faces major challenges in pediatric surgical care, particularly related to human and material resources as well as training. These issues must be addressed in the upcoming national pediatric surgery strategy to ensure equitable access to quality care across the country.
