Barriers to headache care in low- and middle-income countries.
File(s)
Author(s)
Mortel, Dominique
Kawatu, Nfwama
Steiner, Timothy J
Saylor, Deanna
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Headache disorders are a common cause of disability globally and lead not only to physical disability but also to financial strain, higher rates of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, and reduced economic productivity which negatively impacts gross domestic product (GDP) on a national scale. While data about headache are relatively scarce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), those available suggest that headache disorders occur on a similar scale in LMICs as they do in high-income countries. In this manuscript, we discuss common clinical, political, economic and social barriers to headache care for people living in LMICs. These barriers, affecting every aspect of headache care, begin with community perceptions and cultural beliefs about headache, include ineffective headache care delivery systems and poor headache care training for healthcare workers, and extend through fewer available diagnostic and management tools to limited therapeutic options for headache. Finally, we review potential solutions to these barriers, including educational interventions for healthcare workers, the introduction of a tiered system for headache care provision, creation of locally contextualized diagnostic and management algorithms, and implementation of a stepped approach to headache treatment.
Date Issued
2022-12
Date Acceptance
2022-09-26
Citation
eNeurologicalSci, 2022, 29, pp.1-7
ISSN
2405-6502
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
7
Journal / Book Title
eNeurologicalSci
Volume
29
Copyright Statement
© 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36212617
PII: S2405-6502(22)00036-3
Subjects
Access to care
Global campaign against headache
Global health
Headache
Low- and middle-income countries
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Netherlands
Date Publish Online
2022-09-28