An African, Multi-centre Evaluation of Patient Care and Clinical Outcomes for Paediatric Patients Undergoing Surgery

Access to safe surgery is a basic human right. This is highlighted by the work of the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery. There is a large burden of surgical disease in the paediatric surgical population with a large unmet need. In Africa, children comprise a significant proportion of the population with approximately 50% of the population being ≤19 years old. Limited data from Africa suggests the risk factors for, incidence and outcomes associated with paediatric surgical complications differ from HICs. The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) has described surgical outcomes in adult patients in Africa. There is a need to determine the burden of the complications in paediatric surgical patients in Africa, and the risk factors for and the type of complications experienced. Once this study is completed, the investigators will be able to target appropriate interventions to improve surgical outcomes for children in Africa. The investigators have the capacity to do this important work, through the African Perioperative Research Group (APORG) group.