# Pediatric Surgery Collaboration in Uganda, the Benefits of Long Term Partnerships at Regional Referral Hospitals

## TL;DR

A long-term partnership model in Uganda's regional hospitals improved pediatric surgical care and outcomes through collaboration and training.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates how sustained international partnerships can enhance pediatric surgical capacity in low-resource settings.

## Key findings

- Lacor Hospital had a significantly higher pediatric surgical case volume compared to other sites.
- Long-term partnerships led to fewer referrals and better on-site treatment capabilities.
- The model generated substantial monetary health benefits through improved care.

## Abstract

In 2022 there were only seven pediatric surgeons in Uganda, but approximately 170 are needed. Consequently, Ugandan general surgeons treat most pediatric surgical problems at regional hospitals. Accordingly, stakeholders created the Pediatric Emergency Surgery Course, which teaches rural providers identification, resuscitation, treatment and referral of pediatric surgical conditions. In order to improve course offerings and better understand pediatric surgery needs we collected admission and operative logbook data from four participating sites. One participating site, Lacor Hospital, rarely referred patients and had a much higher operative volume. Therefore, we sought to understand the causes of this difference and the resulting economic impact.

Over a four-year period, data was collected from logbooks at four different regional referral hospitals in Uganda. Patients ≤ 18 years old with a surgical diagnosis were included. Patient LOS, referral volume, age, and case type were compared between sites and DALYs were calculated and converted into monetary benefit.

Over four sites, 8,615 admissions, and 5,457 cases were included. Lacor patients were younger, had a longer length of stay, and were referred less. Additionally, Lacor’s long-term partnerships with a high-income country institution, a missionary organization, and visiting Ugandan and international pediatric surgeons were unique. In 2018, the pediatric surgery case volume was: Lacor (967); Fort Portal (477); Kiwoko (393); and Kabale (153), resulting in a substantial difference in long-term monetary health benefit.

Long-term international partnerships may advance investments in surgical infrastructure, workforce, and education in low- and middle-income countries. This collaborative model allows stakeholders to make a greater impact than any single institution could make alone.