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Ukachukwu AEK, Adeolu AA, Adeleye AO, Chikani MC, Haglund MM, Fuller AT. Neurosurgical Practice, Training, and Research Capacity Assessment in Nigeria: A Methodological Approach. World Neurosurg 2024; 185:e4-e15. [PMID: 38741329 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There has been a progressive growth of neurosurgery in Nigeria over the past 6 nulldecades. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the state of neurosurgical practice, training, and research in the country. METHODS We used a mixed-methods approach that combined a survey of neurosurgery providers and a systematic review of the neurosurgical literature in Nigeria. The 83-question online survey had 3 core sections for assessing capacity, training, and gender issues. The systematic review involved a search of 4 global databases and gray literature over a 60-year period. RESULTS One hundred and forty-nine respondents (95% male) completed the survey (65.4%). Their age ranged from 20 to 68 years, with a mean of 41.8 (±6.9) years. Majority were from institutions in the nation's South-West region; 82 (55.0%) had completed neurosurgery residency training, with 76 (51%) employed as consultants; 64 (43%) identified as residents in training, 56 (37.6%) being senior residents, and 15 (10.1%) each held academic appointments as lecturers or senior lecturers. The literature review involved 1,023 peer-reviewed journal publications: 254 articles yielding data on 45,763 neurotrauma patients, 196 on 12,295 pediatric neurosurgery patients, and 127 on 8,425 spinal neurosurgery patients. Additionally, 147 papers provided data on 5,760 neuro-oncology patients, and 56 on 3,203 patients with neuro-vascular lesions. CONCLUSIONS Our mixed-methods approach provided significant insights into the historical, contemporary, and future trends of neurosurgery in Nigeria. The results could form the foundation for policy improvement; health-system strengthening; better resource-planning, prioritization, and allocation; and more purposive collaborative engagement in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvan-Emeka K Ukachukwu
- Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Augustine A Adeolu
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan; and Department of Neurological Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Amos O Adeleye
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan; and Department of Neurological Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Mark C Chikani
- Department of Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Michael M Haglund
- Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony T Fuller
- Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Ukachukwu AEK, Abu-Bonsrah N, Seas A, Petitt Z, Waguia-Kouam R, Ramos S, Edwards A, Deng DD, Haglund MM, Fuller AT. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global neurosurgery collaborations. World Neurosurg X 2024; 21:100244. [PMID: 38221953 PMCID: PMC10787299 DOI: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2023.100244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alvan-Emeka K. Ukachukwu
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nancy Abu-Bonsrah
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Andreas Seas
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Zoey Petitt
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Romaric Waguia-Kouam
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lillington, NC, USA
| | - Samantha Ramos
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alyssa Edwards
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Di D. Deng
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael M. Haglund
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anthony T. Fuller
- Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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