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. 2021 Mar:147:e8-e15.
doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.008. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

A Continental Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Neurosurgical Training in Africa

Jebet Beverly Cheserem  1 , Ignatius N Esene  2 , Muhammad Raji Mahmud  3 , Kazadi Kalangu  4 , Samuila Sanoussi  5 , Aaron Musara  4 , Nasser M F El-Ghandour  6 , Graham Fieggen  7 , Mahmood Qureshi  8
Affiliations

A Continental Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Neurosurgical Training in Africa

Jebet Beverly Cheserem et al. World Neurosurg. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Containment measures for COVID-19 have affected surgical training globally. We sought to assess how neurosurgical training has been affected across Africa in April 2020.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to African Neurosurgical trainees seeking to review demographics and effects of COVID on training.

Results: A total of 123 neurosurgery trainees responded from 23 African countries and a further 6 were abroad. A total of 91.80% were men, and 96.70% were training in public institutions. Only 41% had received training in COVID-19 with 61.79% worried that they would contract COVID-19 while performing their clinical duties. There was a marked reduction in clinical activities including a median reduction of elective surgery (-80%), clinics (-83%), and emergency surgery (-38.50%). A total of 23.58% of residents did not receive a formal salary, with 50% on less than $1000 USD gross per month.

Conclusions: This is the first continental survey of neurosurgery trainees in Africa. COVID-19 has significantly affected clinical and learning opportunities. There are concerns of the long-term effects on their training activities for an uncertain period of time during this pandemic. Although there has been a global increase in e-learning, there is need to evaluate if this is accessible to all trainees.

Keywords: Africa; COVID-19; Education; Neurosurgery; Pandemic; Trainees.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Countries that responded.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trainees by country.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Training level of trainees as reported by respondents.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage of respondents reporting changes in clinical activities.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Changes in clinical activity.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Clinical areas and risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Respondents monthly income (USD).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Mahmud M.R., Cheserem B., Esene I.N. The impact of COVID-19 on neurosurgical services in Africa. World Neurosurg. 2020 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.004. accessed November 25, 2020. - DOI - PMC - PubMed