Health Care in Central America

Health care in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) is different from high-income countries (HICs). For instance, the management of acute appendicitis in Northern Guatemala is different from hospitals in the US. Physical exam, spinal anesthesia, and an open appendectomy are common practices at a major referral hospital in El Peten Guatemala. In the US, computed tomography, general anesthesia, and a laparoscopic appendectomy are more common. Additionally, an antibiotic-first strategy is not currently accepted in hospitals in Guatemala. Similarly, the gold-standard operation for biliary colic in US hospitals is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, whereas in Northern Guatemala, the most common approach is via an open approach. Current medical literature primarily focuses on HICs. Understanding common practices and barriers to adoption of HICs’ strategies begins by having a conversation of health care practices in LMICs. Providing a cost-effective platform for LMICs to publish papers that directly relate to their patient population is pivotal in this discussion. The main goal of Aid Via Action Global Health Journal will be to provide an avenue to publish manuscripts in LMICs with an initial focus in Central America