A geospatial analysis of two-hour surgical access to district hospitals in South Africa.
District hospital
Geographic information systems
Global surgery
South Africa
Surgical access
Surgical capacity
Journal
BMC health services research
ISSN: 1472-6963
Titre abrégé: BMC Health Serv Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088677
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
13 Aug 2020
13 Aug 2020
Historique:
received:
25
03
2020
accepted:
09
08
2020
entrez:
15
8
2020
pubmed:
15
8
2020
medline:
23
12
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In a robust health care system, at least 80% of a country's population should be able to access a district hospital that provides surgical care within 2 hours. The objective was to identify the proportion of the population living within 2 hours of a district hospital with surgical capacity in South Africa. All government hospitals in the country were identified. Surgical district hospitals were defined as district hospitals with a surgical provider, a functional operating theatre, and the provision of at least one caesarean section annually. The proportion of the population within two-hour access was estimated using service area methods. Ninety-eight percent of the population had two-hour access to any government hospital in South Africa. One hundred and thirty-eight of 240 (58%) district hospitals had surgical capacity and 86% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Improving equitable surgical access is urgently needed in sub-Saharan Africa. This study demonstrated that in South Africa, just over half of district hospitals had surgical capacity but more than 80% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Strengthening district hospital surgical capacity is an international mandate and needed to improve access.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
In a robust health care system, at least 80% of a country's population should be able to access a district hospital that provides surgical care within 2 hours. The objective was to identify the proportion of the population living within 2 hours of a district hospital with surgical capacity in South Africa.
METHODS
METHODS
All government hospitals in the country were identified. Surgical district hospitals were defined as district hospitals with a surgical provider, a functional operating theatre, and the provision of at least one caesarean section annually. The proportion of the population within two-hour access was estimated using service area methods.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Ninety-eight percent of the population had two-hour access to any government hospital in South Africa. One hundred and thirty-eight of 240 (58%) district hospitals had surgical capacity and 86% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Improving equitable surgical access is urgently needed in sub-Saharan Africa. This study demonstrated that in South Africa, just over half of district hospitals had surgical capacity but more than 80% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Strengthening district hospital surgical capacity is an international mandate and needed to improve access.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32791995
doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05637-0
pii: 10.1186/s12913-020-05637-0
pmc: PMC7425023
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
744Références
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