Anorectal malformations in low and middle-income countries- spectrum, burden and management

In brief

This article examines the clinical spectrum and management challenges of anorectal malformations in resource-limited settings. The authors analyze disease burden across low- and middle-income countries and discuss strategies for improving surgical outcomes despite infrastructure and training constraints.

• ARM prevalence and presentation patterns differ significantly in LMICs due to delayed diagnosis, limited prenatal screening, and resource constraints.
• Management challenges include lack of specialized pediatric surgical expertise, inadequate infrastructure, and poor access to long-term follow-up care.
• Establishing regional training centers and multidisciplinary ARM care networks can improve outcomes in resource-limited settings.
• Cultural barriers and delayed presentation often result in preventable complications like sepsis and malnutrition before surgical intervention.
• Standardized classification systems and outcome registries are essential for benchmarking care quality and guiding resource allocation in LMICs.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.