Children's Heart Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenging the Burden of Disease
SA Heart Journal
;
7(1): 18-29, 2010.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1271317
ABSTRACT
Children with heart disease in Africa have little or no access to treatment of any kind; and cardiac surgical services are virtually absent outside a handful of centres in a few of the wealthier nations. There is little reliable data concerning the prevalence of congenital or acquired heart disease in African children; but there is sufficient information to indicate that the burden of cardiac disease is vast. This major non-communicable disease is largely hidden; overshadowed by the incidence of communicable diseases. There is as yet little evidence of the hoped-for epidemiological transition toward non-communicable diseases amongst children in Africa. The burden of congenital heart disease is only part of the problem; with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remaining the commonest cardiac problem; related to poor socioeconomic conditions. RHD is the most preventable form of cardiac disease; yet there is little preventive work being done. The many obstacles to developing paediatric cardiac care are discussed; and some possible ways forward are proposed
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Child
/
Disease Management
/
Heart Diseases
Type of study:
Risk factors
Language:
English
Journal:
SA Heart Journal
Year:
2010
Type:
Article
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