Neurology training in sub‐Saharan Africa: A survey of people in training from 19 countries

Abstract

Neurology training programs in sub-Saharan Africa are relatively limited in number and have several unmet needs including a small cadre of faculty and an opportunity to standardize curricula and financing of programs. Ann Neurol 2016;79:871-881.

Validation of a smartphone-based EEG among people with epilepsy: A prospective study

“…Since medical equipment for the care of patients with brain disorders is often not prioritized in LMICs1617, low-cost technologies at the “point of care” hold great potential for uptake18. More than 95% of physicians in training to become neurologists in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 reported owning a personal smartphone19. Moreover, the potential to record without electricity for up to twelve hours (i.e.…”

Neurology Training Worldwide

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][17][18][19][20][21] There is a particular paucity of neurologists in low-and middle-income countries: 3-8,17-21 3 out of 28 (11%) low-income countries that responded do not have a neurologist, compared with 13 out of 49 (27%) lower middleincome countries, 10 out of 48 (21%) upper middle-income countries, and 4 out of 63 (6%) high-income countries. The disparity between income groups is even more pronounced for the absence of neurology trainees: [6][7][8]17,[19][20][21] 7 out of 12 (58%) low-income countries that responded do not have trainees, compared with 6 out of 25 (24%) lower middle-income countries, 3 out of 29 (10%) upper middle-income countries, and 4 out of 46 (9%) high-income countries. Seven countries without neurologists gained neurologists over the span of the surveys including four low-income countries (Eritrea, the Gambia, Malawi, and Rwanda), two lower middle-income countries (Djibouti and Zambia), and an upper middle-income country (Mauritius).…”

“…Seven countries without neurologists gained neurologists over the span of the surveys including four low-income countries (Eritrea, the Gambia, Malawi, and Rwanda), two lower middle-income countries (Djibouti and Zambia), and an upper middle-income country (Mauritius). [3][4][5][6] Two lower middle-income countries (Lesotho, and São Tomé and Principe) went from having neurologists to having none. [3][4][5] Four countries started to train neurologists over the span of the surveys: 7,8,17,20 one upper middle-income country (Paraguay) and three high-income countries (Bahrain, Iceland, and Qatar).…”

Challenges of the Management of Stroke in Sub Saharan Africa: Evaluating Awareness, Access and Action

“…There are still few (Cape Verde Islands, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe) who do not have a single neurologist [56]. The author of this paper has been the only neurologist in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria; a state with a population of approximately 4 million persons (as at 2006 census) [57] for the past 8 years. There were 19 responding countries in a study carried out to provide a comprehensive understanding of neurology training; 10 had no formal neurology training programs.…”