The age composition of the people in developing countries shows a significant number of them are under the age of 18years. The number of children living with disability in these countries is higher compared to the developed nations. Some of the reasons for this could be the presence of poor hygiene and sanitary conditions, poor health service coverage and delivery, poor maternal and infant care, poor rehab facilities and so on. Ethiopia being the second most populous country in Africa with a population of over 100 million, the number of children living with disability is huge.
In this study we set out to study the impact areas in the lives of children with musculoskeletal impairment. We wanted to see what has been challenging and what is important in their lives and their families. Working at a facility which delivers free orthopedic surgeries and rehabilitation for these children, we are best suited to do this research.
Although we are the only pediatric orthopedic hospital in the country, we are only four consultants. Even though we are busy with the clinical work, we always take time to do research that has a good impact in the service for the community. This was one of them where we found eye-opening results.
I hope you will find it a good read.
Dr. Tewodros T. Zerfu is a Consultant Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at CURE Ethiopia Children’s Hospital.
Image: Copyright CURE International, Bethlehem Teshome
Read the full article
Tewodros T. Zerfu, Mesfin Etsub, Timothy Nunn, Richard Gardner, Impact of musculoskeletal impairment on the lives of school-aged children in Ethiopia: A prospective mixed methods study, East and Central African Journal of Surgery, Vol 24 No 3 (2019)
http://journal.cosecsa.org/index.php/ECAJS/article/view/20180005
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