Characterizing the Global Burden of Surgical Disease: A Method to Estimate Inguinal Hernia Epidemiology in Ghana

Abstract

Data generated by our method indicate the extent to which Ghana lacks the surgical capacity to address its significant inguinal hernia disease burden. This approach provides a simple framework for calculating inguinal hernia epidemiology in resource-poor settings that may be used for advocacy and program planning in multiple country contexts.

A Randomized Trial of Low-Cost Mesh in Groin Hernia Repair

“…21,36 Because groin hernia is a very common condition and its repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide and because the cost of commercial mesh is prohibitive in many low-and middleincome countries, the findings of this study could have broad relevance for the care of these patients. 1,[4][5][6]37 The recurrence rate of 0.7% with low-cost mesh is consistent with recurrence rates reported with commercial mesh in high-income countries. 38 Hematoma or swelling in the groin or scrotum was documented more frequently than has been reported in high-income countries (5.6 to 16%).…”

“…10,11 Resource constraints, however, restrict the capacity to provide sufficient surgical volume, which has resulted in a large burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. 4,5 Limited resources also influence the choice of surgical technique. In high-income countries, a synthetic mesh is used in almost all hernia repairs, because this type of mesh results in a significantly lower risk of recurrence than the risk with the older, sutured techniques.…”

“…[1][2][3] Groin hernia causes considerable illness and even death if left untreated, and its repair has been identified as a key intervention to reduce the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. 1,[4][5][6][7][8][9] Surgery in general and groin hernia repair in particular have also been shown to be highly cost-effective, even in comparison with other prioritized health care interventions such as child vaccination and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection in such settings. 10,11 Resource constraints, however, restrict the capacity to provide sufficient surgical volume, which has resulted in a large burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries.…”

An estimate of hernia prevalence in Nepal from a countrywide community survey

“…[19] Similarly, operative record and communitybased studies form sub-Saharan Africa, Taiwan, United States, Israel and Brazil reported prevalence between 2.4 -7.9%, all of which greater than the prevalence reported in Nepal. [1,[20][21][22][23][24][25] The burden of untreated hernias in South Asia has not previously been reported for comparison.…”

Incidence of abdominal wall hernias: the results of population study

“…Так, например, при осмотре мужчин в за-падном Иерусалиме было выявлено 18 больных па-ховой грыжей на 100 человек в возрасте до 25 лет с увеличением их количества до 47 в возрасте старше 75 лет [1]. По данным африканских авторов, распро-страненность паховой грыжи среди населения Ганы составляет 3,15% [2]. В Нигерии пупочная грыжа была выявлена у 102 (1,3%) из 7968 детей [3].…”