Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence of Inguinal Hernia in Adult Men in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

  • Original Scientific Report
  • Published:
World Journal of Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Inguinal hernia is thought to be common in rural Ghana, though no recent data exist on hernia prevalence in the country. This information is needed to guide policy and increase access to safe hernia repair in Ghana and other low-resource settings.

Methods

Adult men randomly selected from the Barekese sub-district of Ashanti Region, Ghana were examined by surgeons for the presence of inguinal hernia. Men with hernia completed a survey on demographics, knowledge of the disease, and barriers to surgical treatment.

Results

A total of 803 participants were examined, while 105 participants completed the survey. The prevalence of inguinal hernia was 10.8 % (95 % CI 8.0, 13.6 %), and 2.2 % (95 % CI 0, 5.4 %) of participants had scars indicative of previous repair, making the overall prevalence of treated and untreated inguinal hernia 13.0 % (95 % CI 10.2, 15.7 %). Prevalence of inguinal hernia increased with age; 35.4 % (95 % CI 23.6, 47.2 %) of men aged 65 and older had inguinal hernia. Untreated inguinal hernia was associated with lower socio-economic status. Of those with inguinal hernia, 52.4 % did not know the cause of hernia. The most common reason cited for failing to seek medical care was cost (48.2 %).

Conclusion

Although inguinal hernia is common among adult men living in rural Ghana, surgical repair rates are low. We propose a multi-faceted public health campaign aimed at increasing access to safe hernia repair in Ghana. This approach includes a training program of non-surgeons in inguinal hernia repair headed by the Ghana Hernia Society and could be adapted for use in other low-resource settings

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sanders DL, Porter CS, Mitchell KCD, Kingsnorth A (2008) A prospective cohort study comparing the African and European hernia. Hernia 12:527–529

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dl Sanders, Kingsnorth A (2007) Operation hernia: humanitarian hernia repairs in Ghana. Hernia 11:389–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Harouna Y, Yay H, Abdou I, Bazira I (2000) Prognosis of strangulated inguinal hernia in the adult: influence of intestinal necrosis. Bull-Soc-Pathol-Exost 93:317–320

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Grimes CE, Bowman KG, Dodgion CM, Lavy CBD (2009) Systematic review of barriers to surgical care in low -income and middle –income countries. World J Surg 5:941–950

    Google Scholar 

  5. Grimes CE, Law RSL, Borgstein ES, Mkandawire NC, Lavy CBD (2012) Systematic review of met and unmet needs of surgical disease in rural sub-Saharan Africa. World J Surg 36:8–23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Beard JH, Oresanya LB, Ohene-Yeboah M, Dicker RA, Harris HW (2013) Characterizing the global burden of surgical disease: a method to estimate inguinal hernia epidemiology in Ghana. World J Surg 37(3):498–503

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. http://www.globalhealth.utah.edu/documents/BCCDP_2009.pdf

  8. Belcher DW, Nyame PK, Wurapa FK (1978) The prevalence of inguinal hernia in adult Ghanaian males. Trop Geogr Med 30:39–43

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. https://www.google.com.gh/search?q=Department+of+Community+Health+Kwam

  10. National Health Insurance Policy Framework for Ghana. Revised Version. Ministry of Health August 2004

  11. 2010 Ghana Population and Housing census (phc) Final Results. Ghana Statistical Services may 2012.Selected age characteristics of the population. www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010phc/2010_popultion_and_housing_census_final_results.pdf

  12. Lofgren J, Makumbi F, Galiwango E, Nordin P et al (2014) Prevalence of treated and untreated groin hernia in eastern Uganda. BJS 101:728–734

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Primatesta P, Goldacre MJ (1996) Inguinal hernia repair: incidence of elective and emergency surgery, readmission and mortality. Int J Epidemiol 25:835–839

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gyasi M, Amoako WMA, Asamany DK (2007) Barriers to cataract surgery uptake in the Upper East region of Ghana. Ghana Med J 41:167–17017

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Choo S, Perry H, Hesse A, Abantanga F, Sory E et al (2010) Assessment of capacity for surgery, obstetrics and anesthesia in 17 Ghanaian hospitals using World Health organization Assessment Tool. Trop Med Int Health 15:1109–1115

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Abantanga FA, Hesse A, Sory E, Osen H, Choo S et al (2012) Policies for improving access to quality of basic and essential surgical care at district hospitals in Ghana. Post Grad Med J Ghana 1(1):3–8

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cumbi A, PereiraC Malalane R, Vaz F, McCord C et al (2007) Major surgery delegation to mid-level health practitioners in Mozambique: health professionals perceptions. Hum Resour Health 5:27

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wilhelm TJ, Thawe IK, Mwatibu B, Mothes H, Post S (2011) Efficacy of major general surgery performed by non-physician clinicians at a central Hospital in Malawi. Trop Dr 21:71–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Beard JH, Oresanya LB, Akoko L, Mwanga A, Mkony CA, Dicker RA (2014) Surgical task-shifting in a low-income resource setting: outcomes after major surgery performed by non-physician clinicians in Tanzania. World J Surg 38(6):1398–14041

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. http://www.businessghana.com/portal/classifieds/index.php?op=getClassifiedInfo&id=100045987

  21. Source: District Health Management Team (DHTM), Ghana

  22. Ghana Hernia Society www.ghanahernia.org

  23. http://www.ugms.edu.gh/index.php/component/content/article/85-departments/90-department-of-surgery

  24. Remme JHF, Feenstra P, P. R. Lever RAND Corporation (1983) Conceptualization and measurement of physiologic health of adults. RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Grant support

Ghana Universities Book and Research Allowance and personal funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences (Korle-Bu teaching Hospital), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Michael Ohene-Yeboah

  2. Division of Trauma, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Surgical Critical Care & ESS, 51 N. 39th Street, Medical Office Bldg, 1st Floor, Suite 120, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Jessica H. Beard

  3. Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, PO Box 1934, Kumasi, Ghana

    Benjamin Frimpong-Twumasi

  4. Department of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Adofo Koranteng

  5. Department of Surgery, Kumasi Regional Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

    Samuel Mensah

Authors
  1. Michael Ohene-Yeboah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jessica H. Beard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Benjamin Frimpong-Twumasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Adofo Koranteng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Samuel Mensah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Ohene-Yeboah.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

No conflicts of interest potential or real.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ohene-Yeboah, M., Beard, J.H., Frimpong-Twumasi, B. et al. Prevalence of Inguinal Hernia in Adult Men in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. World J Surg 40, 806–812 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3335-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3335-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation