# Examining the Obstacles to Timely Otolaryngology Care in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe: A Comparative Analysis

## TL;DR

This study compares delays in ear, nose, and throat care in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, finding that war and poor healthcare funding are major obstacles.

## Contribution

The study introduces a comparative analysis of otolaryngology care delays in two low- and middle-income countries using the Three Delays model.

## Key findings

- Ethiopia had significantly higher delays in seeking and reaching care, worsened by the Tigray War.
- Zimbabwe's delays were due to poor awareness and underfunded healthcare.
- Head and neck oncology care faced the longest delays in both countries.

## Abstract

This study compares delays in otolaryngologic care between patients in Mekelle, Ethiopia and Harare, Zimbabwe using the Three Delays model. Patient surveys conducted among 46 patients in Zimbabwe during October 2022 and 105 patients in Ethiopia during June 2023 revealed a significantly higher prevalence of delays in seeking and reaching care in Ethiopia. This was in the aftermath of the Tigray War, which damaged the region's health care infrastructure and diminished the trust of patients. In Zimbabwe, there was poor awareness among patients and nonotolaryngologist providers of otolaryngology disease and care capacity leading to delays in seeking and reaching care. Patients in both countries faced delays in receiving appropriate care due to resource limitations, with Ethiopia's constraints worsened by the recent war and Zimbabwe's by consistent health care underfunding. The longest delays were observed in head and neck oncology care. These findings provide a foundation for understanding otolaryngologic care delays in these low‐ and middle‐income countries.