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.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 18, 2012
Accepted:
October 5,
2012
Footnotes
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) provided the survey tool, technical assistance, and funding for the logistical execution of the data collection, including the salaries of the interviewers and field supervisor. The UVA Department of Surgery provided funding for statistical analysis and consultative assistance with study design.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
