Background: Data regarding delays for emergency surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited. We have therefore decided to undertake an evaluation of delays in patients seeking care, reaching care and receiving care for emergency surgery at four rural faith-based hospitals in this region over a 3 month period.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, multi-center, international study at four rural faith-based hospitals in Madagascar, Gabon, Cameroon and Burundi.