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PD IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD |
Sudan Peritoneal Dialysis Program, Khartoum, Sudan
Correspondence to: S. Elamin, Sudan PD Program, P.O. Box 363, Khartoum, 11111 Sudan. sarraelamin{at}hotmail.com
Background: Africa is the world's second-largest and
second most populous continent. It is also the poorest and most underdeveloped
continent. Struggling to provide the essential health interventions for its
occupants, the majority of African countries cannot regard renal replacement
therapy a health priority.
Review: In 2007, Africa's dialysis population
constituted only 4.5% of the world's dialysis population, with a prevalence of
74 per million population (pmp), compared to a global average of 250 pmp. In
almost half the African countries, no dialysis patients are reported. The
prevalence of peritoneal dialysis (PD) was 2.2 pmp, compared to a global
prevalence of 27 pmp, with the bulk of African PD patients (85%) residing in
South Africa. In North African countries, which serve 93% of the African
dialysis population, the contribution of PD to dialysis is only 0% – 3%.
Cost is a major factor affecting the provision of dialysis treatment and many
countries are forced to ration dialysis therapy. Rural setting, difficult
transportation, low electrification rates, limited access to improved
sanitation and improved water sources, unsuitable living circumstances, and
the limited number of nephrologists are obstacles to the provision of PD in
many countries.
Conclusion: The potential for successful regular PD
programs in tropical countries has now been well established. Cost is a major
prohibitive factor but the role of domestic manufacture in facilitating
widespread use of PD is evidenced by the South African example. Education and
training are direly needed and these are areas where international societies
can be of great help.
KEY WORDS: Africa; developing countries; end-stage renal disease.
Received 13 September 2008; accepted 4 March 2009.
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