Essential human and material resources for emergency care in the district hospitals of Burundi

Introduction

Burundi, like many African nations, faces challenges in providing accessible emergency care. The aim of this study was to assess the type of staff training, accessibility to imaging, and availability of essential equipment in the district hospitals of Burundi in order to inform strategic planning for healthcare delivery.

Methods

In June 2022 an online survey was sent to each district hospital of the country. Complete responses were analysed and, where appropriate, significance determined by chi-square analysis, with p<0.05 considered significant.

Results

Forty of 45 district hospitals completed the survey, of which 35 were rural (matching national demographics). The majority of district hospitals (21/40) had ready access to ≥4/5 critical drugs while few (5/40) were equipped with ≥4/5 key material. One quarter had 24/7 physician coverage and X-ray available. Only 3 had continuous access to ultrasound studies despite most district hospitals having ultrasound machines. Trained emergency room staff were almost totally absent from the field, with only 6 nurses, 4 generalists, and 1 specialist reported across 9 sites. Even a single EM-trained staff member was significantly correlated with being better equipped for emergencies (p<0.01).

Conclusion

Burundi needs a strategic investment in emergency preparedness and care. Policy initiatives and technology purchases have demonstrated reasonable penetration down to the district hospital level, however, trained personnel are essential to develop sustainable emergency capacity.