title: Challenges in the Management of Hydrocephalic Children in Northern Mozambique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrocephalus in sub-Saharan Africa, including Mozambique, is still a significant health care problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data from a previous study were used to determine patient provenance, referral patterns, and lost to follow-up rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many children with hydrocephalus in this region are not taken to health care facilities for treatment. Reasons include poverty, difficult access, lack of transportation, and erroneous cultural interpretations. Resource limitations in terms of poorly equipped health care facilities and a lack of trained health professionals also contribute.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to improve prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are of utmost importance in Mozambique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lúrio, Nampula, Mozambique; Department of Neurosurgery, Centro Hospitalar São João, Oporto, Portugal; Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal; Neurosciences Unit of CUF Porto Hospital, Oporto, Portugal. Electronic address: sfsalvador.neurocirurgia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lúrio, Nampula, Mozambique; Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of Nampula, Nampula, Mozambique.
authors.forename: João Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lúrio, Nampula, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Missael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munguambe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Centro Hospitalar São João, Oporto, Portugal; Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal; Neurosciences Unit of CUF Porto Hospital, Oporto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui M C
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health of University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Predictive Medicine and Public Health of Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Hydrocephalus; Infant; Management; Mozambique