In an effort to improve wound care in rural regions of tropical developing countries, Linda Benskin, PhD, RN, SRN (Ghana), CWCN, CWS, DAPWCA,WOCNF, and her husband and research partner, Richard Benskin, conducted an investigation to identify sustainable, effective wound management strategies suited to these environments. Their poster, presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) Spring 2025 in Grapevine, TX, emphasizes the critical need for interventions with ecological validity—those proven safe and effective in the unique cultural, climatic, and resource-limited conditions of rural tropical villages.

Wounds remain a significant public health burden in these areas, with prevalence rates often surpassing 20%,¹ according to the poster’s authors. The challenges are compounded by limited access to trained professionals. Instead, the Benskins note, care is largely provided by traditional health practitioners, village health workers, and even untrained individuals. Yet, despite the heavy burden, the literature is nearly silent on existing wound care practices in these settings.

To fill this gap, the researchers used an innovative “story completion” technique to navigate cultural sensitivities and gather detailed, quantifiable data, interviewing a range of lay caregivers—including Red Cross-trained herbalists and self-proclaimed witch doctors—in Ghana, Zambia, and Cambodia. For the first time, wound management behaviors in these settings were described and analyzed. The authors noted that “wound expert” participants preferred moist wound care, using bandages or occlusive herbal poultices across wound types.¹ However, their frustration at being unable to reliably provide a moist wound environment was evident. Cleansing and debridement practices were also inconsistent,¹ underscoring the need for clearer, accessible guidance.

These findings were instrumental in designing a comparison study for the Available Technology Dressing (ATD), a method inspired by improvised dressings from Japan and India but adapted for tropical villages. Conducted in 2021, the randomized controlled trial confirmed the ATD’s safety and efficacy across wound types. As Dr. Benskin notes, “Moist wound management is desirable, even in the tropics.”¹

This research effort elevates the voices of village health providers while also laying the groundwork for introducing sustainable, validated wound care methods and suggesting the ATD technique may provide a promising bridge between global best practices and local realities.

Reference: 

1. Benskin L, Benskin R. The Quest for a Sustainable Wound Management Solution for Rural Areas of Tropical Developing Countries. Presented at Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) Spring in Grapevine, TX, April 30-May 3, 2025.