Ekure Ekanem N, Sadoh Wilson E, Bode-Thomas Fidelia, Orogade Adeola A, Animasahun Adeola B, Ogunkunle Oluwatoyin O, Babaniyi Iretiola, Anah Maxwell U, Otaigbe Barbara E, Olowu Adebiyi, Okpokowuruk Frances, Omokhodion Samuel I, Maduka Ogechi C, Onakpoya Uvie U, Adiele Daberechi K, Sani Usman M, Asani Mustapha, Yilgwan Christopher S, Daniels Queennette, Uzodimma Chinyere C, Duru Chika O, Abdulkadir Mohammad B, Afolabi Joseph K, Okeniyi John A
Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Email:
Cardiovasc J Afr. 2017;28(1):54-59. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2016-057. Epub 2016 Aug 2.
Paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria have been perceived to be inadequate but no formal documentation of availability and distribution of facilities and services has been done.
To evaluate and document the currently available paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria.
In this questionnaire-based, cross-sectional descriptive study, an audit was undertaken from January 2010 to December 2014, of the personnel and infrastructure, with their distributions according to geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Forty-eight centres participated in the study, with 33 paediatric cardiologists and 31 cardiac surgeons. Echocardiography, electrocardiography and pulse oximetry were available in 45 (93.8%) centres while paediatric intensive care units were in 23 (47.9%). Open-heart surgery was performed in six (12.5%) centres. South-West zone had the majority of centres (20; 41.7%).
Available paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria are grossly inadequate and poorly distributed. Efforts should be intensified to upgrade existing facilities, establish new and functional centres, and train personnel.
尼日利亚的儿科心脏服务一直被认为不足，但尚未对设施和服务的可及性及分布情况进行正式记录。
评估并记录尼日利亚目前可用的儿科心脏服务。
在这项基于问卷的横断面描述性研究中，于2010年1月至2014年12月对人员和基础设施进行了审核，并根据尼日利亚的地缘政治区域对其分布情况进行了统计。
48个中心参与了该研究，有33名儿科心脏病专家和31名心脏外科医生。45个（93.8%）中心具备超声心动图、心电图和脉搏血氧饱和度测定设备，23个（47.9%）中心设有儿科重症监护病房。6个（12.5%）中心开展了心脏直视手术。西南部地区的中心数量最多（20个；41.7%）。
尼日利亚现有的儿科心脏服务严重不足且分布不均。应加大力度升级现有设施，建立新的实用中心，并培训相关人员。
