Needs of Young African Neurosurgeons and Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Main Authors: Ulrick S. Kanmounye, Faith C. Robertson, Nqobile S. Thango, Alvin Nah Doe, Nourou Dine Adeniran Bankole, Pape Aicha Ginette, Solomon Ondoma, James A. Balogun, Isabella Opoku, Luxwell Jokonya, Thioub Mbaye, Zarina A. Shabhay, Ahmed M. Ashour, Ana Cristina Veiga Silva, Beverly Cheserem, Claire Karekezi, Fahd Derkaoui Hassani, Nesrine Mentri, Tsegazeab Laeke, Abenezer Tirsit Aklilu, Samuila Sanoussi, Aaron Musara, Jeff Ntalaja, Peter Ssenyonga, Souad Bakhti, Najia El Abbadi, Muhammad Raji Mahmud, Nasser M. F. El-Ghandour, Amro Al-Habib, Angelos G. Kolias, Franco Servadei, Graham Fieggen, Mahmood Qureshi, Ignatius Esene, CAANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee and WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Committee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-05-01
• Series: Frontiers in Surgery
• Subjects: Africa; education; global neurosurgery; neurosurgery; research
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2021.647279/full

Introduction: Africa has many untreated neurosurgical cases due to limited access to safe, affordable, and timely care. In this study, we surveyed young African neurosurgeons and trainees to identify challenges to training and practice.Methods: African trainees and residents were surveyed online by the Young Neurosurgeons Forum from April 25th to November 30th, 2018. The survey link was distributed via social media platforms and through professional society mailing lists. Univariate and bivariate data analyses were run and a P-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results: 112 respondents from 20 countries participated in this study. 98 (87.5%) were male, 63 (56.3%) were from sub-Saharan Africa, and 52 (46.4%) were residents. 39 (34.8%) had regular journal club sessions at their hospital, 100 (89.3%) did not have access to cadaver dissection labs, and 62 (55.4%) had never attended a WFNS-endorsed conference. 67.0% of respondents reported limited research opportunities and 58.9% reported limited education opportunities. Lack of mentorship (P = 0.023, Phi = 0.26), lack of access to journals (P = 0.002, Phi = 0.332), and limited access to conferences (P = 0.019, Phi = 0.369) were associated with the country income category.Conclusion: This survey identified barriers to education, research, and practice among African trainees and young neurosurgeons. The findings of this study should inform future initiatives aimed at reducing the barriers faced by this group.