ESRD: end-stage renal disease *Others sickle cell nephropathy -2
(2.8%), ADPKD -5 (7.0%), toxic nephropathy -22 (31.0%), obstructive
uropathy -20 (28.2%), chronic pyelonephritis -22 (31.0%)
This may be a huge underestimation of the true situation in rural and
semi-urban communities. Patients often present late and a good number of
them may not visit the healthcare facilities for several reasons
including high cost of healthcare services as well as the use of
alternative treatments such as herbal remedies, spiritual healing and
traditional native healers9. The cost of management of
ESRD and affordability is a concern where renal replacement therapy
(RRT) is available. There is little or no social security system
including appropriate healthcare insurance scheme and so patients pay
out of their pockets.
Most of the prevalence studies in Nigeria were hospital
based8, 10-11, and of ESRD, with figure ranging from
8% to 12%. The epidemiological community based studies identified in
Southeast Nigeria, however, looked at various stages of CKD in rural and
semi-urban communities. One of the study documented that the overall age
and sex adjusted prevalence was 11.4%, respondents ≥ 60 years was
27.8% in rural and the highest prevalence of 32.9% was observed in
semi urban area12.