[Evolution of the demography of anesthesia practitioners in French speaking Sub-Saharan Africa].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the course of the demography of anaesthesia providers in French-speaking subsaharian countries.


METHODS
Retrospective survey.


METHODS
Doctors trained in anaesthesia and nurse anaesthetists registered in West African medical societies.


METHODS
Countries, hospitals, anaesthesia manpower, seniority and place of training were analysed.


RESULTS
In the 13 French-speaking subsaharian countries including 97.5-M inhabitants, 122 doctors and 868 nurses were registered as anaesthetists in 1998. Mean ratios were one doctor trained in anaesthesia for 799,180 inhabitants and one nurse anaesthetist for 112,327 inhabitants. From 1980 to 1998, these figures increased by a factor 11 for doctors (+1100%) and by a factor two for nurses (+100%). Most doctors were working in the chief town, in both public and private health care institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
In all French-speaking subsaharian countries, a major shortage of doctors trained in anaesthesia is existing.
Sanou
I
I
Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, CHU de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Vilasco
B
B
Obey
A
A
Binam
F
F
Chobli
M
M
Touré
M K
MK
Adnet
P
P
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000354:Africa, Western; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000639:trends*; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012955:Societies, Medical