Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/16672
Title: An observational assessment of anesthesia capacity in Madagascar as a prerequisite to the development of a national surgical plan
Austin Authors: Baxter, Linden S;Ravelojaona, Vaonandianina A;Rakotoarison, Hasiniaina N;Herbert, Alison;Bruno, Emily;Close, Kristin L;Andean, Vanessa ;Andriamanjato, Hery H;Shrime, Mark G;White, Michelle C
Affiliation: Mercy Ships, Port of Toamasina, Madagascar
College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Department of Anesthesia, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Ministère de la Santé Publique, Madagascar
Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Office of Global Surgery and Health, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
Issue Date: Jun-2017
Date: 2017-06
Publication information: Anesthesia & Analgesia 2017; 124(6): 2001-2007
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The global lack of anesthesia capacity is well described, but country-specific data are needed to provide country-specific solutions. We aimed to assess anesthesia capacity in Madagascar as part of the development of a Ministry of Health national surgical plan. METHODS: As part of a nationwide surgical safety quality improvement project, we surveyed 19 of 22 regional hospitals, representing surgical facilities caring for 75% of the total population. The assessment was divided into 3 areas: anesthesia workforce density, infrastructure and equipment, and medications. Data were obtained by semistructured interviews with Ministry of Health officials, hospital directors, technical directors, statisticians, pharmacists, and anesthesia providers and through on-site observations. Interview questions were adapted from the World Health Organization Situational Analysis Tool and the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists International Standards for Safe Practice of Anaesthesia. Additional data on workforce density were collected from the 3 remaining regions so that workforce density data are representative of all 22 regions. RESULTS: Anesthesia physician workforce density is 0.26 per 100,000 population and 0.19 per 100,000 outside of the capital region. Less than 50% of hospitals surveyed reported having a reliable electricity and oxygen supply. The majority of anesthesia providers work without pulse oximetry (52%) or a functioning vaporizer (52%). All the hospitals surveyed had very basic pediatric supplies, and none had a pediatric pulse oximetry probe. Ketamine is universally available but more than 50% of hospitals lack access to opioids. None of the 19 regional hospitals surveyed was able to completely meet the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists' standards for monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Improving anesthesia care is complex. Capacity assessment is a first step that would enable progress to be tracked against specific targets. In Madagascar, scale-up of the anesthesia workforce, investment in infrastructure and equipment, and improvement in medication supply-chain management are needed to attain minimal international standards. Data from this study were presented to the Ministry of Health for inclusion in the development of a national surgical plan, together with recommendations for the needed improvements in the delivery of anesthesia.
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/16672
DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002049
Journal: Anesthesia & Analgesia
PubMed URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28525513
Type: Journal Article
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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