LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Although non-traumatic diseases affect fewer people than traumatic neurosurgical diseases, they require expertise more often. The authors sought to understand the barriers to non-traumatic neurosurgical diseases (NTNSD) in a country with limited access to neurosurgical care. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection was carried out in two Cameroonian reference hospitals for a year. Multiple imputations were used to generate data for the missing variables - death and discharge with sequelae. Bivariate relationships were evaluated using the Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. Odds ratios were equally calculated, and the results were considered significant for a p-value <0.05. RESULTS NTNSD represented 44% of neurosurgical activity. 177 patients with a mean age of 43.7 ± 21.2 years were included in our study. 53.1% were female, 78.0% lived in a different region from that of the neurosurgical center, and 18.1% had health insurance. 39.5% of patients were referrals, and the mean symptom-to-admission delay was 409.0 ± 1301.7 days. 87.0% of patients had undergone at least one of the diagnostic examinations prescribed to them. Men (p=0.029) and rural dwellers (p=0.017) had shorter symptom-to-admission delays than women and urban dwellers, respectively. The mean length of stay was 18.2 ± 13.4, and 80.8% of patients were treated surgically. 31 (17.5%) patients died in hospital: 9 treated surgically and 22 treated conservatively or expectantly. CONCLUSION Patients with NTNSD present at the definitive care facilities late. This delay is attributable to financial and geographical barriers.