Clinical Patterns of Abdominal Wall Hernias and Factors Associated with Inguinal Hernia in Afghanistan: A Single-Center Study
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Abstract
Background: We aimed to determine the data describing the clinical and operative patterns of abdominal wall hernias in Afghanistan.
Methods: This prospective hospital-based cross-sectional study with consecutive recruitment was conducted from March to August 2024 at a tertiary referral hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. Adult patients undergoing surgical repair of abdominal wall hernias were enrolled. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, clinical features, hernia-related characteristics, risk factors, and operative findings were collected using standardized case-report forms. Exploratory bivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with inguinal hernia compared with other abdominal wall hernia subtypes. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined.
Results: A total of 91 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 40.8 ± 15.4 years, and 69.2% were male. Inguinal hernia was the most common subtype, followed by incisional and paraumbilical hernias. Mesh repair was performed in 95.6% of cases. In bivariate analysis, male sex and constipation were associated with higher odds of inguinal hernia, whereas overweight/obesity, previous abdominal surgery, unemployment, and low socioeconomic status were associated with lower odds of inguinal hernia. No other variables showed statistically significant associations. Findings from regression analysis were interpreted cautiously due to small sample size.
Conclusion: This study provides prospective evidence on the clinical and sociodemographic profile of surgically treated abdominal wall hernias in Afghanistan. The predominance of inguinal hernia, prolonged symptom duration before surgery, and socioeconomic vulnerability of many patients might inform surgical service planning and future multicenter research in resource-limited settings.
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References
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