Clinical profile and outcomes of endoscopic surgery patients during a mobile gynecological surgery program in low- and middle-income communities in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Access to quality gynecological surgery in low- and middle-income communities has been
greatly hampered by logistical and socioeconomic challenges. These challenges can be overcome
through the provision of mobile laparoscopic surgery. Endoscopic surgery reduces the rate of infection,
duration of hospital stay, and the need for blood transfusion, which are factors attributable to surgical
disease burden due to poverty. A team comprising gynecologists, nurses, and theater technicians has
been providing laparoscopic surgery to patients in low-income communities in Kiambu, Nairobi, and Meru
counties in Kenya. This initiative was undertaken by pooling resources to procure basic laparoscopic
equipment, a regional needs assessment for gynecological surgery, and logistical planning for outpatient
clinical services. This was followed by the provision of laparoscopic surgery to patients diagnosed with
various gynecological conditions. We present programmatic data of the clinical profile and outcomes of
patients who benefited from the program.
Results: A total of 175 women benefited from the program from January 2023 to December 2023. The
most common surgery undertaken was laparoscopic hysterectomy due to symptomatic uterine fibroids.
Other procedures included diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain. Most women
were under the national health insurance fund scheme.
Conclusion: The program has improved the quality of services provided and demonstrated the feasibility
of mobile surgical workshops as an intervention to improve the quality of services in low-income
communities.