The assessment of dermatological needs in resource‐poor regions

Abstract

The assessment of health needs is a key step in determining the nature and level of health service provision required in any global region. In dermatology, information on needs has provided information on the scale and impact of skin conditions in poor rural and urban populations. In such areas, additional problems in providing adequate services are access to trained health care professionals and cost to families and individuals, set against the background of a village-mixed economy. A further problem is health literacy, which may limit the use of services. However, some of the most comprehensive surveys of the prevalence of skin disease have been carried out in resource-poor countries, and attempts have been made to assess these along with their impact on individual disability. These studies and their outcomes are described in this article.

Dermatopathology in sub‐Saharan Africa: a systematic 5‐year analysis of all histopathological diagnoses from the Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC) in Moshi, Tanzania

“…In these cases diagnoses are almost invariably made clinically. It is important to underline that several patients with any disease, including dermatological infectious conditions primarily use traditional medicine, which is still extremely important in the culture of SSAC …”

“…In Africa the prevalence of skin disorders has been estimated between 11.5% and 60% . However, there is a lack of knowledge of the prevalence of skin diseases in specific regions and communities . In sub‐Saharan African Countries (SSAC) dermatological diseases belong to the five most frequent causes of morbidity and incapacity to work in rural settings.…”

The Global Burden of Skin Disease in 2010: An Analysis of the Prevalence and Impact of Skin Conditions

“…It pervades all cultures, occurs at all ages, and affects between 30% and 70% of individuals, with even higher rates in at-risk subpopulations (NHANES, 1978;Bickers et al, 2006;Scholfield et al, 2009;Hay and Fuller, 2012). Its detrimental effects on health range from physical incapacity to death (Basra and Shahrukh, 2009).…”

Global Burden of Skin Disease: Inequities and Innovations

“…Overall, cost is difficult to estimate because systems operate on a mixed economy where cash, electronic financial assets, and the barter system are used equally, evading systematic study. The highly prevalent use of community-based traditional healers operating on a barter system in these settings is also a significant barrier to comprehensive cost analysis (19,24)…”