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Systematic Review of Barriers to Surgical Care in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries

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Abstract

Background

There is increasing evidence that lack of facilities, equipment, and expertise in district hospitals across many low- and middle-income countries constitutes a major barrier to accessing surgical care. However, what is less clear, is the extent to which people perceive barriers when trying to access surgical care.

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE were searched using key words (“access” and “surgery,” “barrier” and “surgery,” “barrier” and “access”), MeSH headings (“health services availability,” “developing countries,” “rural population”), and the subject heading “health care access.” Articles were included if they were qualitative and applied to illnesses where the treatment is primarily surgical.

Results

Key barriers included difficulty accessing surgical services due to distance, poor roads, and lack of suitable transport; lack of local resources and expertise; direct and indirect costs related to surgical care; and fear of undergoing surgery and anesthesia.

Conclusions

The significance of cultural, financial, and structural barriers pertinent to surgery and their role in wider health care issues are discussed. Immediate action to improve financial and geographic accessibility along with investment in district hospitals is likely to make a significant impact on overcoming access and barrier issues. Further research is needed to identify issues that need to be addressed to close the gap between the care needed and that provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Epsom & St. Helier Hospitals NHS Trust, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1AA, UK

    Caris E. Grimes

  2. Department of Surgery, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Kendra G. Bowman & Christopher M. Dodgion

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK

    Christopher B. D. Lavy

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  1. Caris E. Grimes
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  2. Kendra G. Bowman
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  3. Christopher M. Dodgion
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  4. Christopher B. D. Lavy
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Correspondence to Caris E. Grimes.

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Grimes, C.E., Bowman, K.G., Dodgion, C.M. et al. Systematic Review of Barriers to Surgical Care in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries. World J Surg 35, 941–950 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-011-1010-1

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