Groin hernia repair is the most commonly performed general surgical procedure worldwide with over 200 million people affected globally. Untreated groin hernias have significant morbidity and mortality. The unmet need for surgery is greatest in Sub-Saharan Africa where specialist surgeons are few. Groin hernia repair outputs need to increase along with the training of surgical providers in modern hernia repair methods. There are two on-going projects in this area:
Epidemiological study on groin hernia repair in Uganda
Project partners: Pär Nordin (Umeå universitet), Jenny Löfgren (KI)
Matovu, A., Nordin, P., Wladis, A., Ajiko MM, Löfgren J.
Groin Hernia Surgery in Uganda: Caseloads and Practices at Hospitals Operating Within the Publicly Funded Healthcare Sector.
World J Surg (2020). Published June 15.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05633-9
Implementation project on groin hernia repair in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda
Project partners: Jenny Löfgren (KI), Håkon Bolkan (Norges teknisk-naturvitenskaplige universitet), Jessica Beard (University of Pennsylvania)
Ashley T, Ashley H, Wladis A, et al.
Outcomes After Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair Performed by Associate Clinicians vs Medical Doctors in Sierra Leone: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(1):e2032681. Published January 11.
doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.32681
Contact: Andreas Wladis
