title: A national survey of surgical activity in hospitals in Malawi.
abstract: Malawi is a poor country with few doctors. It has 21 district hospitals, all of which have operating theatres but none of which has a surgeon. Most district hospitals are manned by a single doctor and two or more paramedic clinical officers. In 2003, a total of 28,594 operations were performed in district hospitals. In all, 12,506 (44%) of these were obstetric or gynaecological procedures, but only 821 (3%) were general surgical cases. It appears that district clinicians are happy to attempt emergency obstetric and gynaecological cases but tend to refer emergency general surgical cases.
authors.affiliation: Beit Trust CURE International Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi, Africa.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinlechner
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tindall
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavy
authors.forename: Nyengo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mkandawire
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimangeni
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*