OPERATING FOR EQUITY: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN DRIVING SURGICAL SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE saloni.mitra2000@gmail.com

 

OPERATING FOR EQUITY: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN DRIVING SURGICAL SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

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Katayoun Madani katayounsmadani@gmail.com Simurgh Global Surgery Collaborative Paradise Valley United States International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN) Sint-Truiden Belgium

Belgium

Oral or Poster

Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires investment in surgical systems and the active engagement of the next generation of leaders. Elevating youth perspectives brings fresh strategies, innovative partnerships, and sustainable solutions for surgical system strengthening. To advance this agenda, InciSioN co-hosted a side event at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), “Operating for Equity: Strengthening Surgical Systems to Achieve UHC,” aimed at raising awareness and promoting youth engagement in surgical care.

Pre- and post-event surveys were distributed online and onsite through email and QR codes. Surveys captured demographics, baseline knowledge, and post-session changes in understanding, motivation, and engagement. Responses were anonymized and paired for participants completing both surveys. Welch’s t-test evaluated changes in understanding of surgical systems and UHC, with Cohen’s d calculated for effect size. Qualitative thematic analysis assessed participant takeaways.

Paired data from 37 participants showed representation primarily from SEARO (32.4%) and AFRO (29.7%), with lowest from PAHO (2.7%). Most respondents had a background in medicine (86.5%), followed by medicine with public health (8.1%), dentistry (2.7%), and medicine with policy/international relations (2.7%). Average familiarity with surgical systems increased from 3.70 (SD=1.08) pre-event to 4.35 (SD=0.72) post-event (t=3.05, p=0.0033; Figure 1), with a medium-to-large effect size (Cohen’s d=0.71). Qualitative analysis revealed five themes: policy integration, health security, data and research, youth engagement, and collaboration (Table 1).

The session improved knowledge of surgical systems and UHC, emphasized youth engagement, and motivated advocacy and mentorship. Systematic inclusion of youth-focused side events at WHA could further amplify impact and visibility.