BACKGROUND: Populations in Africa are ageing, hence the number of age-related fragility fractures, including hip fractures, is rising. Hip fractures are an indicator condition for older adult health provision, as they require a multifaceted pathway of care. To enable health service planning, detailed national-level understanding of current fracture service provision is needed. METHODS: The WHO Service Availability & Readiness Assessment survey was modified to evaluate fracture service availability, and readiness. All health care facilities to which a patient with a hip fracture could present in The Gambia and Zimbabwe were invited to participate between October 2021 and January 2023. A further traditional bone-setter (TBS)-specific survey assessed TBS care in The Gambia. Availability of services per 100 000 adults ≥ 18 years, and general, fracture-specific, and hip fracture-specific care readiness were determined. RESULTS: All invited facilities in Zimbabwe (n = 186), 98% in The Gambia (n = 150), and 35 of 42 (83%) TBS participated in the survey. General availability of hospital facilities was low in both Zimbabwe and The Gambia and many facilities lacked regular electricity, reliable oxygen supplies, and sharp/infectious waste disposal. In The Gambia, 78.6% public hospitals and 53.8% other facility types (e.g. NGO/mission) had no doctors. Fracture care readiness:
J glob health
14/03/2025
15
Gambia, Humans, Zimbabwe, Health Services Accessibility, Hip Fractures, Medicine, African Traditional, Health Care Surveys, Surveys and Questionnaires