Socio-economic Implications of the Surgical Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Between July 1987 and June 1991, 38 patients presented to our service for the surgical treatment of hydrocephalus. The average age at presentation was nine months and the sex ratio was M:F = 1:2:1. Majority of the patients presented at advanced stage of the disease with gross head enlargement, psychomotor retardation and optic atrophy. Despite the willingness of the parents to have surgical treatment, there was an average delay of six weeks between confirmation of diagnosis and treatment, because of socio economic reasons.