ArticleBMJ open2014
A cross-sectional survey of essential surgical capacity in Somalia.
Article in BMJ open, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Thefeasibility, appropriateness, and applicability of trauma scoring systems in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review.Trauma surgery & acute care open · 2020Pooled it
- Anesthesia Care Capacity at Health Facilities in 22 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.World journal of surgery · 2016Pooled it
- Moving from data collection to application: a systematic literature review of surgical capacity assessments and their applications.World journal of surgery · 2015Pooled it
- Mapping Plastic Reconstructive Surgical Needs and Access Barriers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.World journal of surgery · 2026Article
- The State of Anesthesia and Critical Care Services in Somalia: Challenges and Opportunities.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2026Article
- Universal health coverage in fragile and conflict-affected States: insights from Somalia.International journal for equity in health · 2025Article
- Essential Equipment for Baseline Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Care: A Global Cross-Sectional Survey.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2025Article
- Peripheral extremity surgery performed during the Syrian conflict - A scoping review.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- The impact of scheduling ketamine as an internationally controlled substance on anaesthesia care in Sub-Saharan Africa: a case study and key informant interviews.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Surgical capacity, productivity and efficiency at the district level in Sub-Saharan Africa: A three-country study.PloS one · 2022Article
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning breast cancer, cervical cancer and screening among healthcare professionals and students in Mogadishu, Somalia: a cross-sectional study.Ecancermedicalscience · 2022Article
- Evaluation of Essential and Emergency Surgery Provide in Primary Hospitals of Gedeo Zone and Sidama Region, South, Ethiopia, 2020.Open access emergency medicine : OAEM · 2022Article
- Nationwide enumeration of emergency operations performed in Ghana.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2021Article
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- Knowledge of and preparedness for COVID-19 among Somali healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2021Article
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- Provision of Surgical Care for Children Across Somaliland: Challenges and Policy Guidance.World journal of surgery · 2019Article
- Medical equipment donation in low-resource settings: a review of the literature and guidelines for surgery and anaesthesia in low-income and middle-income countries.BMJ global health · 2019Article
- 'We are all serving the same Ugandans': A nationwide mixed-methods evaluation of private sector surgical capacity in Uganda.PloS one · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo assess life-saving and disability-preventing surgical services (including emergency, trauma, obstetrics, anaesthesia) of health facilities in Somalia and to assist in the planning of strategies for strengthening surgical care systems.
designCross-sectional survey.
settingHealth facilities in all 3 administrative zones of Somalia; northwest Somalia (NWS), known as Somaliland; northeast Somalia (NES), known as Puntland; and south/central Somalia (SCS).
participants14 health facilities. MEASURES: The WHO Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care was employed to capture a health facility's capacity to deliver surgical and anaesthesia services by investigating four categories of data: infrastructure, human resources, interventions available and equipment.
resultsThe 14 facilities surveyed in Somalia represent 10 of the 18 districts throughout the country. The facilities serve an average patient population of 331 250 people, and 12 of the 14 identify as hospitals. While major surgical procedures were provided at many facilities (caesarean section, laparotomy, appendicectomy, etc), only 22% had fully available oxygen access, 50% fully available electricity and less than 30% had any management guidelines for emergency and surgical care. Furthermore, only 36% were able to provide general anaesthesia inhalation due to lack of skills, supplies and equipment. Basic supplies for airway management and the prevention of infection transmission were severely lacking in most facilities.
conclusionsAccording to the results of the WHO Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care survey, there exist significant gaps in the capacity of emergency and essential surgical services in Somalia including inadequacies in essential equipment, service provision and infrastructure. The information provided by the WHO tool can serve as a basis for evidence-based decisions on country-level policy regarding the allocation of resources and provision of emergency and essential surgical services.
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