The outlook of rheumatological care in Africa: Current state, challenges, and recommendation

Aderinto Nicholas; Kehinde Alare; Muili AbdulBasit Opeyemi; Adekanle Oluwatosin

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104689

The outlook of rheumatological care in Africa: Current state, challenges, and recommendation

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Sep 21:82:104689. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104689. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Authors

Aderinto Nicholas¹, Kehinde Alare², Muili AbdulBasit Opeyemi³, Adekanle Oluwatosin¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine and Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
² Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria.
³ Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria.

Abstract

There is a gross lack of access to rheumatological access in Africa. For example, the most populous country in the continent, Nigeria, has just 30 rheumatologists serving a population of about 200 million. In Ghana, there are just 2 rheumatologists serving a population of about 28 million people. Unfortunately, the prevalence of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal diseases is on the rise in Africa. The main issues facing rheumatologic care in Africa are inadequate health professionals, inadequate research, and a weak health system. These factors have hindered the progress of rheumatologic care and treatment in the region. Prompt action must be taken in tackling these effects and to achieve better care for rheumatologic patients in Africa. This paper analyzes carefully the current state of rheumatologic care in Africa, identifying the needs for rheumatologic care, determinants of quality of rheumatologic care delivery, and the challenges currently facing rheumatology care in Africa. Also, this review gives some recommendations on ways by which the existing system of rheumatologic care in Africa can be improved.

Keywords: Africa; Public health; Rheumatology.