49th Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery Archive-Comprehensive Policy Recommendations for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida in Low-and Middle Income Countries

Comprehensive Policy Recommendations for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida in Low-and Middle Income Countries - Kathrin Zimmerman

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Catherine Zimmerman, a medical student at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, presents a collaborative project focused on policy recommendations for the treatment of Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida in low- and middle-income countries. Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida are common neurosurgical disorders in children that contribute to morbidity and mortality globally. The study conducted a literature review to compile evidence on the capacity required for treating these conditions. Recommendations were made in various phases of care, including prevention, screening, pre-hospital care, surgical systems, rehabilitation, and transitional and follow-up care. These recommendations covered domains such as infrastructure, workforce, service delivery, financing, information management, and governance. Examples of specific recommendations included folic acid fortification, tracking incidence data, educating healthcare providers, establishing training centers, and empowering nurses and community health workers. The video emphasizes the importance of evidence-based strategies to enhance pediatric neurosurgical care worldwide.

Keywords

Hydrocephalus

Spina Bifida

low- and middle-income countries

policy recommendations

neurosurgical disorders