Defining the Need for Dermatologic Surgery Global Health in an Afro-Caribbean Country

BACKGROUND

Dermatologic surgery services are largely absent in Africa and in Afro-Caribbean counties. In the USA, studies of people of African ancestry have demonstrated health care gaps, but there are no data for Africa nor a Afro-Caribbean country. Dermatology surgery has been largely absent from global health because there are few data to demonstrate the need. We sought to determine skin cancer tumor types, and local knowledge and perception in an Afro-Caribbean country.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine whether there exist knowledge gaps and whether a dermatology surgery medical missions program would improve the health of Afro-Caribbean people.

METHODS

First, we conducted a survey of knowledge and behaviors related to skin cancer. Second, we analyzed the number and types of tumors treated during a multi-year surgical dermatology project.

RESULTS

In the survey, 62% did not know what melanoma was. Eighty-one percent did not think skin cancer is preventable. Of 163 surgical specimens, 64 were malignancies with 91% related to UV exposure.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for a skin cancer treatment and education program in a country of mostly African-ancestry people.