Screening for Surgical Conditions During Outreach Programs in Rural Taraba State

Surgical outreach programs represent a practical strategy for bridging the substantial gap in surgical access between urban and rural populations in Nigeria. This study documents the findings and outcomes of a structured surgical screening outreach conducted in three rural local government areas of Taraba State, North East Nigeria, in 2023. A descriptive cross-sectional design captured data from 450 community members who presented voluntarily for surgical screening. Conditions screened for included hernias, cataracts, goiters, skin tumours, and orthopaedic deformities. Demographic characteristics, prevalence of surgical conditions, referral rates, and uptake of recommended interventions were recorded. Surgical conditions were identified in 38% of participants. Inguinal hernias constituted the most prevalent finding (18%), followed by cataracts (9%), and thyroid goiters (6%). A total of 62% of eligible patients accepted referral to the nearest secondary care facility. Transportation barriers and financial constraints were the primary reasons for non-acceptance. The study recommends regular government-sponsored surgical outreach programs combined with transport subsidies and community mobilization strategies in rural Taraba State and across the North East region to improve timely access to elective surgical care for underserved populations. Keywords: surgical outreach, rural surgery, Taraba State, hernia, access to care