Responding to the Global Injury Burden by Improving Access to Orthopaedic Medical Devices: A Qualitative Case Study of Orthopaedic Services in Uganda

• Main Author: Bouchard, Maryse
• Other Authors: Kohler, Jillian Clare
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Global Injury Burden; Access to Orthopaedic Medical Devices; Orthopaedic care in low-income countries; Corruption in health care; 0564; 0573
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/30520

The global burden of injury is severely underappreciated and disproportionately affects low-income countries. With timely, appropriate orthopaedic treatment disability and mortality can be prevented, yet appropriate health resources are seldom available. Without orthopaedic medical devices (OMDs), quality of orthopaedic care suffers and the burden of preventable injury is exacerbated. A qualitative case study of 45 key informant interviews was conducted in Uganda to explore accessibility of OMDs, such as plaster, external fixators and implants. Data analysis elicited four major themes as barriers preventing access to OMDs in Uganda: 1) Poor leadership in government and corruption; 2) inadequate human resources; 3) inefficient and insufficient health care infrastructure; and 4) high costs of OMDs and poverty. Potential solutions for improving access to orthopaedic care were categorized as policies prioritizing orthopaedic services, training more orthopaedic specialists and creating incentives for them to work in underserviced areas, and innovative strategies funding for orthopaedic services.