Healthcare service provided for headache patients in selected African countries: a cross-sectional survey of clinician perspectives - Summary - MDSpire

Healthcare service provided for headache patients in selected African countries: a cross-sectional survey of clinician perspectives

  • By

  • Amr Hassan

  • Freda Dodd-Glover

  • Najib Kissani

  • Magnerou Annick Melanie

  • Sounga Bandzouzi Prince Eliot Galieni

  • Mendinatou Agbetou

  • Kigocha Okeng'o

  • Daniel Gams Massi

  • Evelyne Diarra

  • Agbo Panzo Cedric

  • Chiamaka Edith Okereke

  • Wael Alwachi

  • Osheik Seidi

  • Kadira Abdi Aden

  • Augustina Charway-Felli

  • Emna Ellouz

  • Foksouna Sakadi

  • John N. Jabang

  • Denis Shatima

  • Athanase Millogo

  • Ahmed Allioueche

  • Fatimata Hassane Djibo

  • Tiwonge Elisa Phiri

  • Jamal Barros Baco

  • Grenaba-Duval Lewis Reinier Joël

  • Frighton Mutete

  • Doaa M. Khalil

  • Mona Hussein

  • July 15, 2026

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Objective:

To evaluate the availability, accessibility, and organizational structure of headache care services across African countries and to detect major challenges and barriers to optimal care from the perspective of headache-treating clinicians.

Approach:
  • Study Design: Cross-sectional study involving 73 neurologists from 28 African countries, using a structured online questionnaire.
  • Sampling Strategy: Countries selected based on World Bank income classification to ensure balanced representation across economic strata.
Key Findings:
  • Significant discrepancies in workforce capacity: 10 neurologists per country in low-income countries (LICs) vs. 200 in upper-middle-income countries (UMICs) (p < 0.001).
  • Limited access to headache care in LICs, with 50% reporting a 3–4 week waiting list for consultations, and 41.7% reporting a similar waiting time for imaging (p = 0.028, 0.012).
  • Structural barriers highest in LICs, including limited neuroimaging (91.7%) and financial constraints (83.3%).
  • Essential medications more reimbursed in lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries, but innovative therapies (gepants, ditans, and CGRP mAbs) not reimbursed across all settings.
Interpretation:

Headache care across African countries faces substantial inequities in human resources, workforce capabilities, and access to proper care.

Limitations:
  • Response rate of 60.8% may limit the generalizability of findings.
  • Potential biases in self-reported data from clinicians.
Conclusion:

Addressing challenges in headache care requires improving healthcare systems, training non-specialist providers, expanding insurance coverage, and increasing awareness of headache disorders in health policy.

Original Source(s)

Healthcare service provided for headache patients in selected African countries: a cross-sectional survey of clinician perspectives

  • by Amr Hassan, Freda Dodd-Glover, Najib Kissani, Magnerou Annick Melanie, Sounga Bandzouzi Prince Eliot Galieni, Mendinatou Agbetou, Kigocha Okeng'o, Daniel Gams Massi, Evelyne Diarra, Agbo Panzo Cedric, Chiamaka Edith Okereke, Wael Alwachi, Osheik Seidi, Kadira Abdi Aden, Augustina Charway-Felli, Emna Ellouz, Foksouna Sakadi, John N. Jabang, Denis Shatima, Athanase Millogo, Ahmed Allioueche, Fatimata Hassane Djibo, Tiwonge Elisa Phiri, Jamal Barros Baco, Grenaba-Duval Lewis Reinier Joël, Frighton Mutete, Doaa M. Khalil, Mona Hussein

  • July 15, 2026

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