Saleigh Adams, Pien M Verreijdt, Amber Mahieu, Peter M Nthumba, Salome Maswime, Phumzile Hlongwa, Anil Madaree, David Chong, Meshach Onguti, Corstiaan C Breugem
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a common congenital malformation. It results in substantial healthcare utilization and financial burden on families and healthcare services. Research shows that comprehensive cleft care (CCC) leads to better outcomes. To date, little is known about the barriers to CCC in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding these and their possible solutions is paramount when engaging national policymakers on achieving equity in healthcare. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the barriers sub-Saharan African healthcare professionals face in implementing CCC and their potential solutions.
Methods: A questionnaire was sent to healthcare professionals representing the Pan African Congress for CLP, Operation Smile, and Smile Train foundations regarding the most important barriers and potential solutions to CCC.
Results: A total of 119 professionals participated; 76.5% were men, and 56.3% were surgeons. Most respondents worked in Nigeria or Ethiopia. The most commonly reported barriers were long travel distances and financial constraints, followed by limited public awareness. The most critical improvement identified was financial support for establishing multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). The absence or inadequate function of MDTs was largely attributed to a shortage of trained professionals.
Conclusions: Patients' inability to reach hospitals due to travel distance, especially for follow-ups, was the most important barrier. Action to increase geographic accessibility of hospitals is needed. Healthcare professionals overwhelmingly supported establishing MDTs and providing financial aid to patients as the most effective solutions for CCC. To enable MDTs to reach their full potential, a budget for employing and educating healthcare professionals to increase trained staff is needed.
期刊介绍：
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open is an open access, peer reviewed, international journal focusing on global plastic and reconstructive surgery.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open publishes on all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including basic science/experimental studies pertinent to the field and also clinical articles on such topics as: breast reconstruction, head and neck surgery, pediatric and craniofacial surgery, hand and microsurgery, wound healing, and cosmetic and aesthetic surgery. Clinical studies, experimental articles, ideas and innovations, and techniques and case reports are all welcome article types. Manuscript submission is open to all surgeons, researchers, and other health care providers world-wide who wish to communicate their research results on topics related to plastic and reconstructive surgery. Furthermore, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open, a complimentary journal to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, provides an open access venue for the publication of those research studies sponsored by private and public funding agencies that require open access publication of study results. Its mission is to disseminate high quality, peer reviewed research in plastic and reconstructive surgery to the widest possible global audience, through an open access platform. As an open access journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open offers its content for free to any viewer. Authors of articles retain their copyright to the materials published. Additionally, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open provides rapid review and publication of accepted papers.
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