{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T18:32:21Z","timestamp":1790879541405,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG)","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>OBJECTIVE<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Pediatric neurosurgical practice is prevalent in most low- and lower-middle-income countries but lacks comprehensive documentation of practice patterns, demographics, and case variety. This study aimed to present the current state of pediatric neurosurgery in Ethiopia, including workforce characterization, case variety, and relevant procedures.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>METHODS<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A survey was developed and distributed to all Ethiopian fully trained neurosurgeons (n = 50). Survey questions assessed sociodemographic variables, level of training, case variety, and neurosurgical practice. Statistical analysis was conducted to describe the current practice of pediatric neurosurgery.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>RESULTS<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A total of 45 neurosurgeons responded (90%). Three respondents (7%) were women. There was only 1 fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeon, while most neurosurgeons were general neurosurgeons who served a pediatric patient population. Most neurosurgeons (56%) worked in the capital city, Addis Ababa, while another 13% worked in other urban settings. The top three indications for a pediatric neurosurgical procedure were neural tube defects (NTDs) (96%), hydrocephalus (93%), and trauma (60%). NTD-associated hydrocephalus was the most common hydrocephalus type seen (71%). The most common procedure for hydrocephalus was shunt insertion (96%). A prenatal diagnosis of NTD was made in &lt; 10% of cases, as reported by 84% of respondents.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>CONCLUSIONS<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The study highlights Ethiopia\u2019s need for more pediatric neurosurgeons. Suggested strategies to facilitate subspecialty training include the establishment of a fellowship program facilitated by the implementation of a nationwide pediatric neurosurgery registry. Promoting efforts for early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric conditions coupled with NTD prevention initiatives could improve pediatric neurosurgical care in Ethiopia.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3171\/2024.7.peds24237","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,18]],"date-time":"2024-10-18T22:28:11Z","timestamp":1729290491000},"page":"98-104","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Defining pediatric neurosurgery in low-income countries: a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.3171","volume":"35","author":[{"given":"Zerubabbel K.","family":"Asfaw","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hodan","family":"Abdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kaleab Tesfaye","family":"Moges","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yemisirach B.","family":"Akililu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ernest J.","family":"Barth\u00e9lemy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Global Neurosurgery Laboratory, Division of Neurosurgery, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tsegazeab","family":"Laeke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Isabelle M.","family":"Germano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abenezer","family":"Tirsit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1754","reference":[{"issue":"12","key":"b1","series-title":"J Pediatr Surg","first-page":"2305","article-title":"The burden of pediatric surgical conditions in low and middle income countries: a call to action","volume":"47","author":"Ozgediz D","year":"2012","unstructured":"Ozgediz D, Poenaru D. The burden of pediatric surgical conditions in low and middle income countries: a call to action. J Pediatr Surg. 2012;47(12):2305\u20132311."},{"key":"b2","article-title":"United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division","year":"2024","unstructured":"World Population Prospects. 2024.United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Accessed August 15, 2024. https:\/\/population.un.org\/wpp\/"},{"key":"b3","series-title":"World Neurosurg","first-page":"e695","article-title":"Four-year treatment outcomes of children operated for neural tube defect in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a retrospective study","volume":"148","author":"Getahun S","year":"2021","unstructured":"Getahun S, Masresha S, Zenebe E, Laeke T, Tirsit A. Four-year treatment outcomes of children operated for neural tube defect in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a retrospective study. 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