Comparing Effectiveness of Communication Channels in Increasing Utilization of Surgical Services in Rural Eastern
Haritha Reddy1, Saran Kunaprayoon1, Job Nanyiri2
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
World Journal of Surgery
|September 24, 2025
Summary
Proactive communication strategies significantly improve access to surgical care in rural Uganda. Community mobilization was most effective but costly, highlighting the need for efficient health system development through communication channels.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Surgical Care Access
- Health Communication Strategies
Background:
- Surgical conditions represent a significant global disease burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Access to surgical care in LMICs is limited by various factors, despite ongoing healthcare initiatives.
- The role of communication and outreach methods in improving surgical care access in LMICs remains under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different communication strategies in enhancing patient access to surgical care.
- To analyze the impact of active versus passive communication channels on patient recruitment for surgical consultation.
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of various communication methods in a rural Ugandan setting.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective descriptive case study design was employed.
- Data were collected from patient records at Kyabirwa Surgical Center (KSC) in rural Uganda (1/2021–7/2023).
- Statistical analysis of demographic, communication channel, and cost data was performed using RStudio.
Main Results:
- Out of 3515 patients, 842 (24.01%) were reached via "active channels" initiated by KSC.
- Community mobilization (65.3%) and radio talk-shows (30.1%) were the primary active channels.
- Active channels successfully recruited patients with surgically correctable diseases more often than passive channels (p=0.01), with community mobilization being the most effective but also the most expensive recruitment method.
Conclusions:
- Proactive community outreach and patient engagement are crucial for recruiting individuals with surgically treatable conditions.
- Community mobilization is an effective recruitment strategy, but its high cost necessitates further research into cost-efficient communication channels.
- Optimizing health system development through communication strategies is vital for enhancing surgical care accessibility in resource-limited settings.
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