Challenges to fracture service availability and readiness provided by allopathic and traditional health providers: national surveys across The Gambia and Zimbabwe.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Populations in Africa are ageing, hence the number of age-related fragility fractures, including hip fractures, is rising. Hip fractures are an indicator condition for older adult health provision, as they require a multifaceted pathway of care. To enable health service planning, detailed national-level understanding of current fracture service provision is needed.

Methods

The WHO Service Availability & Readiness Assessment survey was modified to evaluate fracture service availability, and readiness. All health care facilities to which a patient with a hip fracture could present in The Gambia and Zimbabwe were invited to participate between October 2021 and January 2023. A further traditional bone-setter (TBS)-specific survey assessed TBS care in The Gambia. Avail

SUBMITTER: Burton A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11907378 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature