National Trauma Registries in LMICs: Long-Overdue Priority; Comment on “Neurotrauma Surveillance in National Registries of Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review and Comparative Analysis of Data Dictionaries”

Document Type : Commentary

Author

Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA

Abstract

The burden of trauma-related mortality is inversely related to income on an individual and national scale. Barthélemy et al highlight the significant variation of neurotrauma data included in national injury registries of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) when compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) minimal dataset for injury (MDI). Moreover, the authors emphasize that the non-existence and underutilization of nationally standardized trauma registries hinder the data-driven identification of factors contributing to neurotrauma and subsequent attempts to improve neurotrauma care. Establishing a nationally standardized trauma registry should be prioritized by all stakeholders involved in curbing trauma-related mortality and building research capacity in LMICs. In this commentary, previous successful efforts to establish and maintain robust registries in LMICs through local and international partnerships are highlighted. The lessons and challenges chronicled in establishing such registries can inform future efforts to implement a nationally standardized trauma registry.

Keywords


  1. Injuries and Violence. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/injuries-and-violence. Accessed June 26, 2022.
  2. Odland ML, Abdul-Latif AM, Ignatowicz A, et al. Equitable access to quality trauma systems in low-income and middle-income countries: assessing gaps and developing priorities in Ghana, Rwanda and South Africa. BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(4):e008256. doi:1136/bmjgh-2021-008256
  3. Shanthakumar D, Payne A, Leitch T, Alfa-Wali M. Trauma care in low- and middle-income countries. Surg J (N Y). 2021;7(4):e281-e285. doi:1055/s-0041-1732351
  4. Mathers CD, Loncar D. Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Med. 2006;3(11):e442. doi:1371/journal.pmed.0030442
  5. Barthélemy EJ, Hackenberg AEC, Lepard J, et al. Neurotrauma surveillance in national registries of low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review and comparative analysis of data dictionaries. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2021;11(11):2373-2380. doi:34172/ijhpm.2021.167
  6. Liang KE, Bernstein I, Kato Y, Kawase T, Hodaie M. Enhancing neurosurgical education in low- and middle-income countries: current methods and new advances. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2016;56(11):709-715. doi:2176/nmc.ra.2016-0092
  7. Asfaw ZK, Tirsit A, Barthélemy EJ, et al. Neurosurgery in Ethiopia: a new chapter and future prospects. World Neurosurg. 2021;152:e175-e183. doi:1016/j.wneu.2021.05.071
  8. Rubiano AM, Carney N, Chesnut R, Puyana JC. Global neurotrauma research challenges and opportunities. Nature. 2015;527(7578):S193-197. doi:1038/nature16035
  9. Feigin VL, Nichols E, Alam T, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18(5):459-480. doi:1016/s1474-4422(18)30499-x
  10. Kanmounye US, Esene IN. Global neurosurgery scope and practice. Neurosurg Open. 2021;2(3):okab025. doi:1093/neuopn/okab025
  11. Barthélemy EJ, Park KB, Johnson W. Neurosurgery and sustainable development goals. World Neurosurg. 2018;120:143-152. doi:1016/j.wneu.2018.08.070
  12. Lartigue JW, Dada OE, Haq M, et al. Emphasizing the role of neurosurgery within Global Health and National Health Systems: a call to action. Front Surg. 2021;8:690735. doi:3389/fsurg.2021.690735
  13. Odukoya O, Nenrot D, Adelabu H, et al. Application of the research electronic data capture (REDCap) system in a low- and middle income country- experiences, lessons, and challenges. Health Technol (Berl). 2021;11(6):1297-1304. doi:1007/s12553-021-00600-3
  14. Choi J, Urubuto F, Dusabimana R, et al. Establishing a neonatal database in a tertiary hospital in Rwanda - an observational study. Paediatr Int Child Health. 2019;39(4):265-274. doi:1080/20469047.2019.1607056
  15. Aliyu MH, Iliyasu Z, Ingles DJ, et al. The V-RAMP program: building research administration and management capacity in Nigeria. J Glob Health Rep. 2021;5:e2021051. doi:29392/001c.24355