Factors associated with delays to surgical presentation in North-West Cameroon

Background Few studies have examined critically the delays in definitive management for surgical diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates factors contributing to delays at Mbingo Baptist Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Cameroon. Methods During a 6-week period, we randomly interviewed 220 patients (39.2%) admitted to the surgical or orthopedic service and/or their caregivers. All patients >age 15 years admitted with a diagnosis of cancer or urgent operative condition (defined as requiring a definitive operation within 48 hours of admission) including trauma were interviewed. Delay was defined as receiving treatment >7 days after symptoms appeared in the urgent cohort and >1 month for the cancer cohort. Results In the urgent cohort, 60.3% patients had delays >7 days to hospital presentation. Compared with nondelayed patients, delayed patients were more likely to have sought care >1 day after symptoms appeared (45.4% vs 6.3%, P