Dealing with Access to Spirometry in Africa: A Commentary on Challenges and Solutions

Refiloe Masekela, Lindsay Zurba and Diane Gray
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Refiloe Masekela: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4013, South Africa
Lindsay Zurba: Education for Health Africa, Durban 4302, South Africa
Diane Gray: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Spirometry is an important tool in the surveillance, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of respiratory disease, yet its accessibility is currently limited in Africa where the burden of respiratory diseases is amongst the highest globally. The reasons for limited access to spirometry in Africa include poor access to training and skilled technicians, limited availability of equipment, consumables, and technical support, and lack of human and financial resources. The Pan African Thoracic Society, working together with regional African thoracic societies and key research initiatives in Africa, have made progress in training and education, but a lot of work is still needed to meet the challenges faced. Accurately defining these challenges of access to high quality spirometry, development of local, standardised, and context-specific training and quality assurance tools; development of appropriate reference standards and innovative approaches to addressing the challenges of access to equipment, consumables and technical support are needed. Training and research collaborations that include regional thoracic societies, health system leaders, the Pan African Thoracic Society and international role players in the field are key to maximising available intellectual and financial resources. Hence ensuring that access to high quality spirometry measures that are used effectively in tackling the burden of respiratory disease in Africa.

Keywords: spirometry; Africa; lung disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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