Tramadol: a valuable treatment for pain in Ghana and Nigeria.

Objective: Pain management is unsatisfactory worldwide, particularly in developing countries where access to opioids is restricted and cost is an issue. It is a major concern in West Africa and we therefore undertook a survey of pain experts to obtain a better understanding of the problems in the region.

Methods: Medical practitioners involved in pain management, identified via professional networks, were interviewed to share their experience in treating moderate-to-severe pain in West Africa.