ABSTRACT
Pediatric surgical conditions account for a significant portion of the burden of surgical disease in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs). This is partially due to regional demographics as more than half of the population is <18 years old in many countries and fertility rates remain as high as seven births per woman, even in countries with limited life expectancies. Prospective studies suggest that up to 85% of children in these settings will require surgical intervention by age 15. 1
