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Wondimagegnehu A, Gizaw M, Genene Abebe L, Teka B, Kaufmann AM, Abebe T, McMahon SA, Addissie A, Kantelhardt EJ. Perceived causes of cancer in a rural community of Ethiopia: a qualitative study. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2401862. [PMID: 39285841 PMCID: PMC11409409 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2401862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although cancer incidence and mortality are rising in Ethiopia, lay and health professional perceptions of the disease remain limited. OBJECTIVE To explore perceptions of cancer, including its causes, signs and symptoms, and transmission within a rural community in Ethiopia. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study in four rural neighbourhoods of Butajira in central Ethiopia. Seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and six In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) were held with community members, women representatives, religious leaders and key informants using two interview guides (divided by method). Behaviour change theories and a community research framework were used to summarize the findings. RESULTS Across respondent categories and data collection methods, respondents described cancer or nekersa, which translates as 'an illness that cannot be cured', as serious and fatal. Cancer was further viewed as becoming more common and as underpinning more deaths particularly among women. Causes of cancer largely focused on individual behaviours namely mitch (referring to exposure to sunlight), poor personal hygiene and urinating on the ground/dirty areas. Almost all participants strongly related cancer to a wound that does not heal and entails a foul-smelling discharge. Bleeding and weight loss were other commonly mentioned complaints of cancer. CONCLUSIONS Although cancer is known among rural communities in this area, misconceptions about cancer aetiology and conflation of the signs and symptoms of cancer versus other diseases merit health messaging. Our study calls for design research to determine how to culturally tailor educational materials and deliver health campaigns regarding cancer causes, signs and symptoms within this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigiya Wondimagegnehu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- NCD Working Group, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Muluken Gizaw
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- NCD Working Group, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lidya Genene Abebe
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- NCD Working Group, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Brhanu Teka
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Andreas M Kaufmann
- Clinic for Gynecology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institutes of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tamrat Abebe
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Shannon A McMahon
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- NCD Working Group, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eva J Kantelhardt
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
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Wondimagegnehu A, Assefa M, Teferra S, Kantelhardt EJ, Zebrack B, Addissie A. A Qualitative Study on Psychosocial Challenges of Patients With Cancer in Ethiopia Using the Social-Ecological Model. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:828-841. [PMID: 38229470 DOI: 10.1177/10497323231219409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Cancer diagnosis and treatment can be physically arduous, disrupting patients' social and work lives. Understanding the extent of these problems is key to addressing patients' needs, but specific psychosocial challenges have not yet been well studied in resource-limited settings. A qualitative study was conducted in the capital and two regions of Ethiopia with the aim of exploring psychosocial challenges among cancer patients. A total of 14 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 16 focus group discussions (FGDs) were done with cancer patients, health professionals, community representatives, and religious leaders. Four separate interview guides were used to facilitate the interviews and discussions. All transcribed documents, field notes, and reflexive memos were entered into NVivo 12 software, and deductive thematic analysis using the social-ecological model was applied to summarize the main findings. At an individual level, emotional distress, suicidal risk, denial, and refusal of treatment were identified immediately after diagnosis while hopelessness, feeling depressed, and fear of death were commonly reported psychosocial challenges during the course of treatment. Involvement of family members in major treatment decisions was recognized at an interpersonal level. Our result also revealed that cancer patients had strong social support from family members and close friends. In the community, traditional medicine and religious rituals were considered an alternative treatment for cancer. The findings indicate that counselling and psychoeducation are crucial for cancer patients, family members, and close friends. Awareness creation programmes should be delivered through collaboration with religious leaders and traditional healers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigiya Wondimagegnehu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
| | - Mathewos Assefa
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Teferra
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eva J Kantelhardt
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
- Department of Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
| | - Bradley Zebrack
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
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Demeke T, Hailemariam D, Santos P, Seife E, Addissie A, Sven Kroeber E, Mikolajczyk R, Silbersack B, Kantelhardt EJ, Unverzagt S. Willingness and ability to pay for breast cancer treatment among patients from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300631. [PMID: 38547108 PMCID: PMC10977721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant neoplasm among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The willingness and ability to pay (WATP) for treatment is a contributing factor in the utilization of health care services. The World Health Organization Breast Cancer Initiative calls for 80% of patients to complete multimodality treatment and indicates payment as central factor to improve BC outcome. The objectives of this study are to identify how much female BC patients paid in Addis Ababa for BC treatment, their WATP for BC treatment, and the factors that affect WATP. METHODS The researchers collected data from 204 randomly selected BC patients who were treated in one of four different health facilities (one public and three private) between September 2018 and May 2019. A structured questionnaire was used to assess their WATP for BC treatment and multivariable regression to investigate factors associated with patients' WATP. RESULTS Of interviewed patients, 146 (72%) were at reproductive age. Patients' median expenditure for all BC treatment services was 336 US dollars (USD) in a public cancer center and 926 USD in privately owned health facilities. These amounts are in contrast with a reported WATP of 50 USD and 149 USD. WATP increased with increasing expenditure (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.89 per 100 US), educational level (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.85) and service quality (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.72). In contrast, a monthly income increase by 100 USD corresponds to a 17% decrease of WATP (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that BC treatment was very expensive for patients, and the cost was much higher than their WATP. Thus, we suggest that BC should be included in both social and community-based health insurance plans and treatment fees should consider patients' WATP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamiru Demeke
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global and Planetary Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Damen Hailemariam
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Pablo Santos
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Global and Planetary Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Edom Seife
- Radiotherapy Centre, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adamu Addissie
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eric Sven Kroeber
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Global and Planetary Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Rafael Mikolajczyk
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Birgit Silbersack
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Global and Planetary Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department of Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Susanne Unverzagt
- Global and Planetary Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Wondimagegnehu A, Teferra S, Assefa M, Zebrack B, Addissie A, Kantelhardt EJ. "How can a woman live without having a breast?": challenges related to mastectomy in Ethiopia. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:60. [PMID: 38212706 PMCID: PMC10782697 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11801-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although mastectomy is the standard treatment modality for breast cancer patients in Ethiopia, our previous study revealed that one in five patients do not receive the recommended procedure, half due to patient refusal or lack of returning to the hospital. Therefore, this study aimed to explore reasons for refusing mastectomy and identify challenges among breast cancer patients in Ethiopia. METHODS An explorative qualitative study was conducted in four hospitals located in the towns of Woliso, Butajira, Hossana, and Assela. A total of 14 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with breast cancer patients, patient relatives, and health professionals. Four semi-structured interview guides were used to facilitate the IDIs and FDGs. All recorded IDIs and FGDs were transcribed and translated verbatim and entered in NVivo 12 software. Emerging ideas were categorised and explained using an inductive content analysis approach. RESULTS Our participants reported that particularly elderly and very young women refuse to have mastectomy. The main reasons identified in this study were summarised into six themes: (i) fear of the surgical procedure, (ii) religious beliefs and practice, (iii) utilisation of traditional treatments, (iv) in relation to having a baby and breastfeeding their children (young patients often request to remove only the lump, leaving their breast tissue intact), (v) lack of awareness about the disease, and (vi) sociocultural factors and advice from the community that influence women, since breasts are considered an attribute of femininity, beauty, and motherhood. In addition, knowing someone who died after mastectomy emerged as a main reason for not having breast cancer surgery. CONCLUSIONS High refusal rate for mastectomy has direct implication on increased breast cancer mortality. Hence, expansion of radiotherapy service is instrumental to initiate breast-conserving surgery as an alternative surgical procedure, especially for young women with early-stage breast cancer. Involving religious leaders, traditional healers, and breast cancer survivors could be an effective strategy to persuade newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Addressing individual patient psychosocial needs and preferences may substantially improve retention of breast cancer patients in the health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigiya Wondimagegnehu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany.
| | - Solomon Teferra
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mathewos Assefa
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bradley Zebrack
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
| | - Eva J Kantelhardt
- Global Health Working Group, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany
- Department of Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Mwamba M, Lombe DC, Msadabwe S, Bond V, Simwinga M, Sentoogo Ssemata A, Muhumuza R, Seeley J, Mwaka AD, Aggarwal A. A Narrative Synthesis of Literature on the Barriers to Timely Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2023; 35:e537-e548. [PMID: 37302880 DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Poor cancer survival outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been linked to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Here we present a detailed overview of the qualitative literature evaluating the barriers to receiving timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer in SSA. The PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases were searched to identify qualitative studies reporting on barriers to timely diagnosis of cancer in SSA published between 1995 and 2020. A systematic review methodology was applied, including quality assessment and narrative data synthesis. We identified 39 studies, of which 24 focused on breast or cervical cancer. Only one study focused on prostate cancer and one on lung cancer. When exploring factors contributing to delays, six key themes emerged from the data. The first theme was health service barriers, which included: (i) inadequate numbers of trained specialists; (ii) limited knowledge of cancer among healthcare providers; (iii) poor co-ordination of care; (iv) inadequately resourced health facilities; (v) negative attitudes of healthcare providers towards patients; (vi) high cost of diagnostic and treatment services. The second key theme was patient preference for complementary and alternative medicine; the third was the limited understanding of cancer among the population. The fourth barrier was a patient's personal and family obligations; the fifth was the perceived impact of cancer and its treatment on sexuality, body image and relationships. Finally, the sixth was the stigma and discrimination faced by patients following a diagnosis of cancer. In conclusion, health system, patient level and societal factors all influence the likelihood of timely diagnosis and treatment for cancer in SSA. The results provide a focus for targeting health system interventions, particular with regards to awareness and understanding of cancer in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mwamba
- Zambart, School of Public Health, Ridgeway Campus, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - D C Lombe
- Regional Cancer Treatment Services MidCentral District Health Board, New Zealand
| | - S Msadabwe
- Cancer Diseases Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - V Bond
- Zambart, School of Public Health, Ridgeway Campus, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
| | - M Simwinga
- Zambart, School of Public Health, Ridgeway Campus, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - A Sentoogo Ssemata
- The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - R Muhumuza
- The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - J Seeley
- The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM), Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - A D Mwaka
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda
| | - A Aggarwal
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK; Institute of Cancer Policy, King's College London, London, UK
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Bogale N, Balta B, Demissie G, Geleta D, Rakoff M, Anderson B, Johnson N, Yee L, Taylor L. Exploring Challenges Related to Breast Cancer to Identify Opportunities for Advocacy in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia: A Community-Based, Qualitative Study. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300137. [PMID: 37972329 PMCID: PMC10846781 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to explore breast cancer (BC) challenges to identify opportunities for advocacy in southern Ethiopia in 2022. METHODS Twenty-five participants from four local districts (kebeles) in Hawassa City were selected as key contributors to future work. Semistructured in-depth interviews were held for two clinicians, two local health bureau managers, two media managers, and three religious leaders. Two focus group discussions were conducted: one included six BC survivors and a caregiver; the other included two health extension workers, three members of the Women's Development Group, two community volunteers, one kebele leader, and one traditional healer. RESULTS To our knowledge, our study was the first time that most participants had assembled. Many referred to patients as victims and BC as a killer disease or curse. Community and religious leaders were concerned about challenges and willing to collaborate. Survivors, providers, and religious leaders were identified as key sources of information, positive messages, and leadership. CONCLUSION Recommendations for advocacy work in Hawassa include lobbying for BC as a health priority; including BC within the health extension package; initiating programs for earlier detection; educating the community to remove stigmas of the disease and treatments; working with media to disseminate messages that are inclusive of people in remote areas and speaking different languages; improving availability, affordability, and access to care; and assisting patients with psychosocial support. A strategic collaboration between religious leaders and health care providers was identified to increase community awareness and support advocacy for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Netsanet Bogale
- Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital-Cancer Treatment Center, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Bargude Balta
- Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital-Cancer Treatment Center, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Gulema Demissie
- Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital-Cancer Treatment Center, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Geleta
- Department of Public Health, Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Yee
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Lesley Taylor
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
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Solomon K, Tamire M, Solomon N, Bililign N, Kaba M. Misconceptions About Female Cancers Contributing to Late Presentation to Health Facilities in Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. Int J Womens Health 2023; 15:299-309. [PMID: 36814529 PMCID: PMC9939666 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s395824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Morbidity and mortality from female cancers is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. More than three quarters of women visiting health facilities are diagnosed with late-stage cervical and breast cancer. Evidence reveals that misconception affects timely health seeking behavior which could have averted expensive treatment and poor survival. This study aimed to explore misconceptions about female cancers that may have contributed to late presentation of the problem to health facilities in Sidama region, Ethiopia. Methods A descriptive qualitative study was carried out in June 2021. Nine focus group discussions (six with women and three with men) and 14 key informants were conducted. Data were collected using interview guide until all information get saturated. Data were inductively coded and qualitative content analysis was applied. Results A total of 63 (24 men and 39 women) people participated in this study. Nearly all (12) key informant interviewees have awareness about cervical and breast cancer, yet reported that their community members clearly lack awareness and they are working to improve misconceptions regarding cervical and breast cancer. The focus group discussion participants (15 men and 36 women) reported lack of detailed information related to cervical and breast cancer. Women believe that cervical and breast cancer mainly resulted from poor hygiene, trauma, having multiple sexual partners, early marriage, breast exposure to heat, not breast feeding, birth complication, urinating in the sun, hereditary, devil's intrusion and God's punishment. Conclusion There were misconceptions among the community on what cervical and breast cancer mean, how they could happen, what the symptoms are, why and when to screen, when to seek health care and how to use modern treatment options. Therefore, we recommended the design of social and behavioral change strategies to address the misconceptions among different population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalkidan Solomon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,Correspondence: Kalkidan Solomon, Email
| | - Mulugeta Tamire
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nahom Solomon
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Nigus Bililign
- Department of Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Mirgissa Kaba
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Dehdar S, Salimifard K, Mohammadi R, Marzban M, Saadatmand S, Fararouei M, Dianati-Nasab M. Applications of different machine learning approaches in prediction of breast cancer diagnosis delay. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1103369. [PMID: 36874113 PMCID: PMC9978377 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1103369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The increasing rate of breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality in Iran has turned this disease into a challenge. A delay in diagnosis leads to more advanced stages of BC and a lower chance of survival, which makes this cancer even more fatal. Objectives The present study was aimed at identifying the predicting factors for delayed BC diagnosis in women in Iran. Methods In this study, four machine learning methods, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), neural networks (NNs), and logistic regression (LR), were applied to analyze the data of 630 women with confirmed BC. Also, different statistical methods, including chi-square, p-value, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), were utilized in different steps of the survey. Results Thirty percent of patients had a delayed BC diagnosis. Of all the patients with delayed diagnoses, 88.5% were married, 72.1% had an urban residency, and 84.8% had health insurance. The top three important factors in the RF model were urban residency (12.04), breast disease history (11.58), and other comorbidities (10.72). In the XGBoost, urban residency (17.54), having other comorbidities (17.14), and age at first childbirth (>30) (13.13) were the top factors; in the LR model, having other comorbidities (49.41), older age at first childbirth (82.57), and being nulliparous (44.19) were the top factors. Finally, in the NN, it was found that being married (50.05), having a marriage age above 30 (18.03), and having other breast disease history (15.83) were the main predicting factors for a delayed BC diagnosis. Conclusion Machine learning techniques suggest that women with an urban residency who got married or had their first child at an age older than 30 and those without children are at a higher risk of diagnosis delay. It is necessary to educate them about BC risk factors, symptoms, and self-breast examination to shorten the delay in diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Dehdar
- Computational Intelligence & Intelligent Optimization Research Group, Business and Economic School, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Khodakaram Salimifard
- Computational Intelligence & Intelligent Optimization Research Group, Business and Economic School, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Reza Mohammadi
- Business Analytics Section, Amsterdam Business School, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maryam Marzban
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Bushehr University of Medical Science, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sara Saadatmand
- Computational Intelligence & Intelligent Optimization Research Group, Business and Economic School, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammad Fararouei
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Dianati-Nasab
- Department of Complex Genetics and Epidemiology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Lounsbury DW, Nichols S, Asuzu C, Odiyo P, Alis A, Qadir M, Nichols S, Parker PA, Henry M. Communicating bad news to patients and families in African oncology settings. Psychooncology 2023; 32:47-57. [PMID: 36045548 PMCID: PMC10496515 DOI: 10.1002/pon.6025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To assess clinicians' self-reported knowledge of current policies in African oncology settings, of their personal communication practices around sharing bad news with patients, and to identify barriers to the sharing of serious news in these settings. METHODS A cross-sectional study of cancer care providers in African oncology settings (N = 125) was conducted. Factor analysis was used to assess cross-cultural adaptation and uptake of an evidence-based protocol for disclosing bad news to patients with cancer and of providers' perceived barriers to disclosing bad news to patients with cancer. Analysis of Various (ANOVA) was used to assess strength of association with each dimension of these two measurement models by various categorical variables. RESULTS Providers from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda represented 85% of survey respondents. Two independent, psychometrically reliable, multi-dimensional measurement models were derived to assess providers' personal communication practices and providers' perceived barriers to disclosing a cancer diagnosis. Forty percent (40%) of respondent nurses but only 20% of respondent physicians had had formal communications skills training. Approximately 20%-25% of respondent physicians and nurses reported having a consistent plan or strategy for communicating bad news to their cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS Results show that effective communication about cancer diagnosis and prognosis requires an appreciation and clinical skill set that blends an understanding of cancer-related internalized stigmas harbored by patient and family, dilemmas posed by treatment affordability, and the need to navigate family wishes about cancer-related diagnoses in the context of African oncology settings. Findings underscore the need for culturally grounded communications research and program design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ali Alis
- McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Myrha Qadir
- Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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Tilly AE, Evans A, Chen JS, Manda A, Salima A, Bingo S, Chikasema M, Westmoreland KD. Kusankha Pamodzi: Health Care Decision-Making Preferences Among Patients with Cancer in Malawi. Palliat Med Rep 2023; 4:127-132. [PMID: 37138948 PMCID: PMC10150710 DOI: 10.1089/pmr.2023.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Oncology teams are encouraged to include patient preferences and goals of care in determining appropriate treatment courses. There are no existing data from Malawi exploring decision-making preferences among cancer patients. Methods In the oncology clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, 50 patients were surveyed for decision making. Results Most participants (70%, n = 35) preferred to engage in shared decision making regarding cancer treatment. About half (52%, n = 24) did not feel that their medical team involved them in decision making and 64% (n = 32) felt that they were never or only sometimes listened to by the medical team. Nearly all (94%, n = 47) preferred to have their medical team inform them how likely treatments are to lead to cure. Conclusions Shared decision making was the preferred mode of treatment decision making by the majority of the surveyed cancer patients in Malawi. Cancer patients in Malawi may have similar preferences to cancer patients in other low-resource settings regarding decision making and communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa E. Tilly
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Address correspondence to: Alyssa E. Tilly, MD, UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe A-104, Malawi,
| | - April Evans
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jane S. Chen
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Katherine D. Westmoreland
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Mekonnen AG, Gebeyehu BT, Woldearegay M. Experience of patients with breast cancer with traditional treatment and healers' understanding of causes and manifestations of breast cancer in North Shewa zone, Ethiopia: a phenomenological study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e063726. [PMID: 36456000 PMCID: PMC9716934 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite a high number of traditional healers (THs) who treat patients with cancer in Ethiopia, there is limited evidence that explored the lived experience of patients with breast cancer (BC) with traditional treatment and healers' understanding of the causes and manifestations of BC. DESIGN A phenomenological study design was employed. SETTING This study was conducted in the North Shewa zone in Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS Eight in-depth interviews were conducted; four of which were with patients with BC and four with THs. Semistructured interviewing techniques were used to collect data from the two groups of respondents. All interviews were audio-recorded. The recorded data were transcribed verbatim. Coding and marking were then performed to make the raw data sortable. The marked codes were then summarised and categorised into themes. RESULTS In this study, some of THs were unaware of the main risk factors or causes of BC. They did not mention the lifestyle risk factors of BC such as smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol and eating habits. The most common clinical manifestations noted by THs were lumps at the breast, discharge from the nipples and weakness. All of the THs got their knowledge of BC treatment from their families and through experience. Regarding the lived experience of treatment, some patients with BC perceived that traditional medicines were safer and more effective than modern treatments and they eventually referred themselves to the THs. CONCLUSIONS Although THs were unaware of the causes of BC, they were familiar with basic signs and symptoms of the disease. Patients with BC referred themselves to the THs because they preferred traditional therapies to modern ones. In order to better satisfy the unmet needs of Ethiopian women with BC, due consideration should be given to traditional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemayehu Gonie Mekonnen
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
| | - Belete Tewabe Gebeyehu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Amhara, Ethiopia
| | - Mesfin Woldearegay
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Amhara, Ethiopia
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Sakafu LL, Philipo GS, Malichewe CV, Fundikira LS, Lwakatare FA, Van Loon K, Mushi BP, DeBoer RJ, Bialous SA, Lee AY. Delayed diagnostic evaluation of symptomatic breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative study of Tanzanian women. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275639. [PMID: 36201503 PMCID: PMC9536581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa are commonly diagnosed at advanced stages. In Tanzania, more than 80% of women are diagnosed with stage III or IV disease, and mortality rates are high. This study explored factors contributing to delayed diagnostic evaluation among women with breast cancer in Tanzania. Methods A qualitative study was performed at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Twelve women with symptomatic pathologically proven breast cancer were recruited. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Swahili. Interviews explored the women’s journey from symptom recognition to diagnosis, including the influence of breast cancer knowledge and pre-conceptions, health seeking behaviors, psychosocial factors, preference for alternative treatments, and the contribution of culture and norms. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and translated into English. Thematic analysis was facilitated by a cloud-based qualitative analysis software. Results All women reported that their first breast symptom was a self-identified lump or swelling. Major themes for factors contributing to delayed diagnostic presentation of breast cancer included lack of basic knowledge and awareness of breast cancer and misconceptions about the disease. Participants faced barriers with their local primary healthcare providers, including symptom mismanagement and delayed referrals for diagnostic evaluation. Other barriers included financial hardships, fear and stigma of cancer, and use of traditional medicine. The advice and influence of family members and friends played key roles in healthcare-seeking behaviors, serving as both facilitators and barriers. Conclusion Lack of basic knowledge and awareness of breast cancer, stigma, financial barriers, and local healthcare system barriers were common factors contributing to delayed diagnostic presentation of breast cancer. The influence of friends and family also played key roles as both facilitators and barriers. This information will inform the development of educational intervention strategies to address these barriers and improve earlier diagnosis of symptomatic breast cancer in Tanzania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Lunogelo Sakafu
- Department of Radiology, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- * E-mail: (LLS); (AYL)
| | | | | | - Lulu S. Fundikira
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Flora A. Lwakatare
- Department of Radiology, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Katherine Van Loon
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Beatrice P. Mushi
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rebecca J. DeBoer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Stella A. Bialous
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Amie Y. Lee
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LLS); (AYL)
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Momenimovahed Z, Momenimovahed S, Allahqoli L, Salehiniya H. Factors Related to the Delay in Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in the Word: A Systematic Review. INDIAN JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40944-022-00632-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Wondimagegnehu A, Negash Bereded F, Assefa M, Teferra S, Zebrack B, Addissie A, Kantelhardt EJ. Burden of Cancer and Utilization of Local Surgical Treatment Services in Rural Hospitals of Ethiopia: A Retrospective Assessment from 2014 to 2019. Oncologist 2022; 27:e889-e898. [PMID: 35791963 PMCID: PMC9632304 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global cancer estimations for Ethiopia announced 77 352 new cases in 2020 based on the only population-based registry in Addis Ababa. This study characterizes cancer patients in rural Ethiopia at 8 primary and secondary hospitals between 2014 and 2019. PATIENTS AND METHODS All clinically or pathologically confirmed cancer cases that were diagnosed between 1 May 2014 and 29 April 2019 were included. A structured data extraction tool was used to retrospectively review patients' charts and descriptive analysis was done. RESULTS A total of 1298 cancer cases were identified, of which three-fourths were females with a median age of 42 years. Breast (38%) and cervical (29%) cancers were the most common among females, while prostate (19%) and oesophageal cancers (16%) were the most common among males. Only 39% of tumors were pathologically confirmed. Nearly two-thirds of the cases were diagnosed at an advanced stage. Surgery was the only accessible treatment option for more than half of the cancer patients, and systemic treatment (except endocrine) was rarely available. One in 5 patients did not receive the recommended surgical procedure, half due to patient refusal or lack of the patient returning to the hospital. CONCLUSION The pattern of cancer diagnoses in rural hospitals shows an exceptionally high burden in women in their middle-ages due to breast and cervical cancers. Advanced stage presentation, lack of pathology services, and unavailability of most systemic treatment options were common. The surgery was offered to nearly 60% of the patients, showing the significant efforts of health workers to reduce sufferings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigiya Wondimagegnehu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - Fekadu Negash Bereded
- Department of Surgery, St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mathewos Assefa
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Teferra
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bradley Zebrack
- University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - Eva J Kantelhardt
- Corresponding author: Eva J. Kantelhardt, MD, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany.
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Melariri HI, Kalinda C, Chimbari MJ. Enablers and hindrances to health promotion and disease prevention practices among healthcare workers in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa. Prev Med Rep 2021; 23:101462. [PMID: 34258174 PMCID: PMC8254112 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP) practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) are key to achieving universal health coverage. This study identified HP and DP enablers and hindrances and compared them at different healthcare levels in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa. An exploratory cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was conducted among HCWs (n = 501) from 23 hospitals. Bivariate and multinomial regression were used to analyze the data. The highest number of participants (70.46%; n = 353) were from tertiary hospitals. Thirteen and Eight categories of enablers and hindrances respectively were identified. Of these, eleven enablers and six hindrances of HP and DP were associated with tertiary hospitals; no enabler was identified at both primary and secondary while one hindrance was associated with primary level of health care. Collaboration among disciplines and organizations (Coeff: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.28-3.66) and programme planning (Coeff: 0.375, 95% CI: 0.23-0.62) were the predictors of HP and DP among medical doctors, while staff induction training (Coeff: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.40-0.95) and performance appraisal (Coeff: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.16-2.98) were the enablers among allied health workers. On the other hand, 'facility promoting treatment more than prevention' (Coeff: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.30-3.14) and 'practice guidelines incorporating HP' (Coeff: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.66-4.70) were the predictors of HP and DP hindrances among medical doctors and allied health workers respectively. Our work indicates the need for an operational strategy designed considering enabling and hindering factors to HP and DP practices for empowering HCWs and enhancing health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert I. Melariri
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa
- Eastern Cape Department of Health, South Africa
| | - Chester Kalinda
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa
- University of Namibia, Faculty of Agriculture, Engineering and Natural Sciences, School of Science, Katima Mulilo Campus, P/Bag 1096, Katima Mulilo, Namibia
| | - Moses J. Chimbari
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, Durban 4041, South Africa
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Mwaka AD, Achan J, Adoch W, Wabinga H. From their own perspectives: a qualitative study exploring the perceptions of traditional health practitioners in northern Uganda regarding cancers, their causes and treatments. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:155. [PMID: 34275446 PMCID: PMC8287672 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01505-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Many cancer patients in the low- and middle-income countries seek care with traditional health practitioners (THPs) and use traditional and complementary medicines (T&CMs) for treatment of cancers. Little is known about the perceptions and influence of THPs on cancer patients’ help-seeking and treatment decisions. We aimed to explore perceptions of THPs regarding cancers, cancer causes, and preferred treatments for cancers, in order to identify aspects that can inform interventions to improve cancer outcomes in Uganda. Methods We conducted this ethnographic study in northern Uganda. In-depth interviews were conducted at the respondents’ homes in quiet, open places, and in the absence of none- respondents. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim within a week of the interviews. Thematic qualitative analysis approaches were used to identify themes and subthemes. Results We included 21 respondents in the study; most were male (16/21), married, with median age of 59 years (range 39 – 80). Most respondents perceived cancer as a new and challenging disease, while one respondent thought of cancer as a result of an imbalance within the body. Most confessed unawareness of the causes of cancers, but believed that cancer could result from the interplay of a number of factors including poor diets, ingestions of chemical agents, and assaults by the spirits of the dead. Some reported that cancers (especially of women’s genital tracts) were sexually transmitted, or caused by accumulation of dirt. Only few healers treated cancers. Most respondents reported that they referred cancer patients to biomedical facilities, sometimes after they have first used their medicines. Most respondents hoped that collaborative research with scientists could help them identify potent T&CMs that cure cancers. Conclusion Traditional health practitioners require training on cancer causes, symptoms and signs, and the necessity for prompt initiation of effective treatments in order to improve cancer outcomes. The predisposition of the majority of respondents to refer cancer patients to biomedical services sets a fertile ground for meaningful cooperation between biomedical and traditional health practices. The national health system in the low- and middle-income countries could formally recognize traditional health practices as a component of the national healthcare system, and encourage the two to practice side by side. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-021-01505-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amos Deogratius Mwaka
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Jennifer Achan
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Winnie Adoch
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Henry Wabinga
- Kampala Cancer Registry, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Gbenonsi G, Boucham M, Belrhiti Z, Nejjari C, Huybrechts I, Khalis M. Health system factors that influence diagnostic and treatment intervals in women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1325. [PMID: 34229634 PMCID: PMC8259007 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11296-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa experience long time intervals between their first presentation to a health care facility and the start of cancer treatment. The role of the health system in the increasing treatment time intervals has not been widely investigated. This review aimed to identify existing information on health system factors that influence diagnostic and treatment intervals in women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa to contribute to the reorientation of health policies in the region. METHODS PubMed, ScienceDirect, African Journals Online, Mendeley, ResearchGate and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and July 2020. We performed a qualitative synthesis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Related health system factors were extracted and classified according to the World Health Organization's six health system building blocks. The quality of qualitative and quantitative studies was assessed by using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Quality-Assessment Tool and the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool, respectively. In addition, we used the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research tool to assess the evidence for each qualitative finding. RESULTS From 14,184 identified studies, this systematic review included 28 articles. We identified a total of 36 barriers and 8 facilitators that may influence diagnostic and treatment intervals in women with breast cancer. The principal health system factors identified were mainly related to human resources and service delivery, particularly difficulty accessing health care, diagnostic errors, poor management, and treatment cost. CONCLUSION The present review shows that diagnostic and treatment intervals among women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa are influenced by many related health system factors. Policy makers in sub-Saharan Africa need to tackle the financial accessibility to breast cancer treatment by adequate universal health coverage policies and reinforce the clinical competencies for health workers to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate care for women with breast cancer in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Gbenonsi
- International School of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco.
| | - Mouna Boucham
- International School of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco
| | | | - Chakib Nejjari
- International School of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco
| | | | - Mohamed Khalis
- International School of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco
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Tesfaw A, Tiruneh M, Tamire T, Yosef T. Factors associated with advanced-stage diagnosis of breast cancer in north-west Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. Ecancermedicalscience 2021; 15:1214. [PMID: 33912239 PMCID: PMC8057775 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2021.1214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer tumours are the most common malignant tumours among women in Ethiopia. Although advanced-stage diagnosis of breast cancer is a common problem, evidence-based information is lacking about the magnitude and determinants of advanced-stage presentation in north-west Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at the oncology units of the University of Gondar and Felege Hiwot specialised hospitals. Stages III and IV were considered advanced stage, whereas stages I and II were considered early stages. Data were collected prospectively on newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and entered using the EPI Info version 7.2 and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of advanced-stage diagnosis of breast cancer. A p-value < 0.05 was used as the cut-off point to select the determinants of the advanced stage. Result About 71.2% of breast cancer patients presented with advanced-stage disease. The median age of patients was 40 years. Rural residence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 2.96), painless breast lump/wound (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.13), travel distance ≥5 km (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.72, 5.29), not practising breast self-examination (BSE) (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.30, 6.52), time to presentation ≥3 months (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.37) and misdiagnosed at first visit (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.59) were determinants of advanced-stage breast cancer. Conclusion Nearly three-quarters of the patients were diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer. Not practising BSE, travel distance ≥5 km, rural residence, painless breast wound/lump and being misdiagnosed at first visit were important determinants of advanced-stage diagnosis of breast cancer. Focused awareness creation programmes for the public and increasing cancer diagnostic centres in the country are crucial to downstage breast cancer at presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aragaw Tesfaw
- Debre Tabor University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, PO Box 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Mulu Tiruneh
- Debre Tabor University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, PO Box 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Tadese Tamire
- Debre Tabor University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Anesthesia, PO Box 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Tewodros Yosef
- Mizan-Tepi University, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 260, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
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Hassen AM, Hussien FM, Asfaw ZA, Assen HE. Factors Associated with Delay in Breast Cancer Presentation at the Only Oncology Center in North East Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:681-694. [PMID: 33776446 PMCID: PMC7989045 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s301337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female breast cancer is becoming an emerging public health problem which accounts for 33% of all cancers in women and 23% of all cancer cases in Ethiopia. The majority of women with breast cancer are diagnosed at later stages due to delayed presentation to seek treatment. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and factors associated with patient delay at presentation among breast cancer patients at Dessie Referral Hospital, the only oncology center in North East Ethiopia. METHODS We conducted an institution-based cross-sectional study among 204 female patients with pathology-confirmed breast cancer at the only oncology center of North East Ethiopia from January to June 2020. An interviewer administered questionnaire and a medical record data extraction tool were used to address the objective of the study. Patients were said to be delayed for diagnosis if the time duration between first clinical presentations to first clinical consultation was more than 3 months. Then, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS Among a total of 209 eligible participants, 5 refused to participate with a response rate of 97.6%. The proportion of patients with delayed presentation was 103 (50.5%), with the median time taken to visit a healthcare provider after recognition of the first symptom was 4 months. Age above 40 years (AOR=4.81; 95% CI=1.26-18.65) P<0.024, college and above educational status (AOR=0.05; 95% CI=0.01-0.77) p<0.036, government employee (AOR=0.19, 95% CI=0.03-0.91) P<0.002, urban residence (AOR= 0.21; 95% CI=0.01-0.82) p<0.001, visit traditional healer (AOR=0.38; 95% CI=0.2-0.69) P<0.0037, and no lump in under armpit (AOR= 9.05; 95% CI=1.14-22.69) P<0.002 were associated with delayed presentation. CONCLUSION Delays to seek treatment is generally high in our study. Age, educational status, occupation, residence, visiting traditional healer, and absence of lump in under armpit were significant factors for delayed presentation. Intervention programs focusing on reducing delayed presentation should be employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Mohammed Hassen
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Foziya Mohammed Hussien
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Zinet Abegaz Asfaw
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Hussien Endris Assen
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Fidan E, Çelik S. Factors affecting medical healthcare-seeking behaviours of female patients according to their stage of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2021; 30:e13436. [PMID: 33694269 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of study was to determine factors affecting the medical healthcare-seeking behaviours of female patients according to their stage of being diagnosed with breast cancer. METHODS This descriptive and correlational study was carried out with 150 women. The data were collected by a survey form, the Body Perception Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale. RESULTS About 54% of the women were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, 68.7% had high self-esteem, and 80% had positive body perceptions, while their social appearance anxiety levels were moderate. The patients with breast cancer at the 4th stage had a high body perception score of 174.00 ± 23.34. Self-esteem was the highest in the patients with stage 2B breast cancer with a value of 0.61 ± 0.91. The highest social anxiety mean score was found in the patients with stage 2A breast cancer as 31.65 ± 12.50. There was no statistically significant difference in the women's sociodemographic characteristics, health and breast cancer history, self-esteem, body perception and social appearance anxiety based on their stages of cancer (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Nurses' identification of risky individuals in early diagnosis, information for the individual / family and society by planning trainings and raising awareness will contribute positively to the patients' medical health-seeking behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emine Fidan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Sevim Çelik
- Nursing Department, Bartın University Health Science Faculty, Bartın, Turkey
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Legese B, Addissie A, Gizaw M, Tigneh W, Yilma T. Information Needs of Breast Cancer Patients Attending Care at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital: A Descriptive Study. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:277-286. [PMID: 33469370 PMCID: PMC7812026 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s264526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to assess the information needs of women with breast cancer attending care at a major hospital in Ethiopia. It also aimed at describing the association of information needs with sociodemographic and clinical variables, preferred sources of information, and time to have it. PATIENTS AND METHODS A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 375 women with breast cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Data were collected by interview and Toronto information needs questionnaire for breast cancer which contains 52 items categorized under five domains was pretested, adopted, and used to address the information needs of patients. One way ANOVA was done to get an association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with information needs. All statistical analysis was performed using STATA (Version 14), and statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS The total mean score for overall information needs among breast cancer patients was 238.7 (22.5) with a range scale of 156-260. Among the five subscales information on disease and information on treatment were the most highly needed areas with a mean percentage of 94.8 and 93.7, respectively; and 254 (67%) of them preferred the information to come from health professionals. Diagnosing as stage IV (p=0.0005) and urban residence (0.02) was associated with less and high information needs, respectively. CONCLUSION The information needs of breast cancer patients were high. Determining what the patient's needs are an important aspect of providing health care especially in cancer care. The healthcare system should include a way of information provision system for breast cancer patients based on their needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birhan Legese
- Madawalabu University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Goba, Ethiopia
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Muluken Gizaw
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wondemagegnhu Tigneh
- Addis Ababa University, School of Medicine, Department of Oncology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfa Yilma
- Ambo University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Ambo, Ethiopia
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Ciria-Suarez L, Jiménez-Fonseca P, Palacín-Lois M, Antoñanzas-Basa M, Férnández-Montes A, Manzano-Fernández A, Castelo B, Asensio-Martínez E, Hernando-Polo S, Calderon C. Ascertaining breast cancer patient experiences through a journey map: A qualitative study protocol. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244355. [PMID: 33347475 PMCID: PMC7751958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current cancer care system must be improved if we are to have in-depth knowledge about breast cancer patients' experiences throughout all the stages of their disease. AIM This study seeks to describe breast cancer patients' experience over the course of the various stages of illness by means of a journey model. METHODS This is a qualitative descriptive study. Individual, semi-structured interviews will be administered to women with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors. Patients will be recruited from nine large hospitals in Spain and intentional sampling will be used. Data will be collected by means of a semi-structured interview that was elaborated with the help of medical oncologists, nurses, and psycho-oncologists. Data will be processed adopting a thematic analysis approach. DISCUSSION The outcomes of this study will afford new insights into breast cancer patients' experiences, providing guidance to improve the care given to these individuals. This protocol aims to describe the journey of patients with breast cancer through the healthcare system to establish baseline data that will serve as the basis for the development and implementation of a patient-centered, evidence-based clinical pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ciria-Suarez
- Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Jiménez-Fonseca
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Central of Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - María Palacín-Lois
- Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ana Férnández-Montes
- Medical Oncology Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Orense, Orense, Spain
| | | | - Beatriz Castelo
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Susana Hernando-Polo
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Caterina Calderon
- Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Tesfaw A, Alebachew W, Tiruneh M. Why women with breast cancer presented late to health care facility in North-west Ethiopia? A qualitative study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243551. [PMID: 33275642 PMCID: PMC7717512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although early diagnosis is a key determinant factor for breast cancer survival, delay in presentation and advanced stage diagnosis are common challenges in low and middle income countries including Ethiopia. Long patient delays in presentation to health facility and advanced stage diagnosis are common features in breast cancer care in Ethiopia but the reasons for patient delays are not well explored in the country. Therefore we aimed to explore the reasons for patient delay in seeking early medical care for breast cancer in North-west Ethiopia. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted from November to December 2019 using in-depth interviews from newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the two comprehensive specialized hospitals in North West Ethiopia. Verbal informed consent was taken from each participant before interviews. A thematic content analysis was performed using Open Code software version 4.02. RESULTS Lack of knowledge and awareness about breast cancer, cultural and religious beliefs, economic hardships, lack of health care and transportation access, fear of surgical procedures and lack of trusts on medical care were the major reasons for late presentation of breast cancer identified from the patient's narratives. CONCLUSIONS The reasons for late presentation of patients to seek early medical care for breast cancer had multidimensional nature in Northwest Ethiopia. Health education and promotion programs about breast cancer should be designed to increase public awareness to facilitate early detection of cases before advancement on the existing health care delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aragaw Tesfaw
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Wubet Alebachew
- Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Mulu Tiruneh
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
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24
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Maillie L, Masalu N, Mafwimbo J, Maxmilian M, Schroeder K. Delays Experienced by Patients With Pediatric Cancer During the Health Facility Referral Process: A Study in Northern Tanzania. JCO Glob Oncol 2020; 6:1757-1765. [PMID: 33201744 PMCID: PMC7713565 DOI: 10.1200/go.20.00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE It is estimated that 50%-80% of patients with pediatric cancer in sub-Saharan Africa present at an advanced stage. Delays can occur at any time during the care-seeking process from symptom onset to treatment initiation. Referral delay, the time from first presentation at a health facility to oncologist evaluation, is a key component of total delay that has not been evaluated in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS Over a 3-month period, caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer at a regional cancer center (Bugando Medical Centre [BMC]) in Tanzania were consecutively surveyed to determine the number and type of health facilities visited before presentation, interventions received, and transportation used to reach each facility. RESULTS Forty-nine caregivers were consented and included in the review. A total of 124 facilities were visited before BMC, with 31% of visits (n = 38) resulting in a referral. The median referral delay was 89 days (mean, 122 days), with a median of two facilities (mean, 2.5 facilities) visited before presentation to BMC. Visiting a traditional healer first significantly increased the time taken to reach BMC compared with starting at a health center/dispensary (103 v 236 days; P = .02). Facility visits in which a patient received a referral to a higher-level facility led to significantly decreased time to reach BMC (P < .0001). Only 36% of visits to district hospitals and 20.6% of visits to health centers/dispensaries yielded a referral, however. CONCLUSION The majority of patients were delayed during the referral process, but receipt of a referral to a higher-level facility significantly shortened delay time. Referral delay for pediatric patients with cancer could be decreased by raising awareness of cancer and strengthening the referral process from lower-level to higher-level facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Maillie
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Nestory Masalu
- Department of Oncology, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Judy Mafwimbo
- Department of Oncology, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | | | - Kristin Schroeder
- Department of Oncology, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Duke Global Cancer Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
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Gebremariam A, Dereje N, Addissie A, Worku A, Assefa M, Abreha A, Tigeneh W, Pace LE, Kantelhardt EJ, Jemal A. Factors associated with late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2020; 185:117-124. [PMID: 32948993 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-020-05919-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Stage at diagnosis is a key determinant of breast cancer prognosis. In this study, we characterize stage at diagnosis and determine factors associated with advanced stage at diagnosis among women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. METHODS Stage information was collected from medical records of 441 women with invasive breast cancer seen in seven major health facilities in Addis Ababa, from January 2017 to June 2018; these seven facilities capture 90% of all incident breast cancer cases in the city. We used multivariable Poisson regression model with robust variance to determine factors associated with advanced stage at diagnosis. RESULTS The predominant tumor histology was ductal carcinoma (83.7%). More than half of the tumors' grade was moderately or poorly differentiated. The median tumor size at presentation was 4 cm. Sixty-four percent of the patients were diagnosed at advanced stage of the disease (44% stage III and 20% stage IV), with 36% of the patients diagnosed at early-stage (5% stage I and 31% stage II). The prevalence of advanced stage disease was significantly higher among women who used traditional medicine before diagnostic confirmation (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.31; p = 0.001), had patient delay of > 3 months (aPR = 1.16; p = 0.042) and diagnosis delay of > 2 months (aPR = 1.24; p = 0.004). But it was lower among women who had history of breast self-examination (aPR = 0.77; p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS Advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer among women in Addis Ababa is strongly associated with use of traditional medicine and with prolonged time interval between symptom recognition and disease confirmation. Community- and health systems-level interventions are needed to enhance knowledge about breast cancer and facilitate timely diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alem Gebremariam
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia. .,Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Nebiyu Dereje
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemu University, Hossana, Ethiopia.,Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Alemayehu Worku
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mathewos Assefa
- Radiotherapy Center, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Aynalem Abreha
- Radiotherapy Center, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wondemagegnehu Tigeneh
- Radiotherapy Center, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lydia E Pace
- Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg Halle, Germany
| | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Berbyuk Lindström N, Woldemariam AA, Bekele A, Munthe C, Andersson R, Girma Kebede B, Linderholm B, Tigeneh W. Person and Family Centeredness in Ethiopian Cancer Care: Proposal for a Project for Improving Communication, Ethics, Decision Making, and Health. JMIR Res Protoc 2020; 9:e16493. [PMID: 32427112 PMCID: PMC7267985 DOI: 10.2196/16493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer is a major burden in Ethiopia. The Oncology Department of Tikur Anbessa (Black Lion) Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa is the sole specialist unit for cancer care in the country. With only a handful of oncologists, a lack of resources, and a huge patient load, the work is challenging, especially in terms of achieving effective and ethical patient consultations. Patients, usually accompanied by family members, often wait for a long time to receive medical attention and frequently depart without treatment. Handling consultations effectively is essential to help patients as much as possible within such limitations. Objective The project has the following three main aims: (1) to enhance and expand the understanding of communicative and associated ethical challenges in Ethiopian cancer care; (2) to enhance and expand the understanding of the implications and use of person- and family-centered solutions to address such communicative challenges in practice; and (3) to plan and evaluate interventions in this area. Methods This project develops and consolidates a research collaboration to better understand and mitigate the communicative challenges in Ethiopian cancer care, with a focus on the handling and sharing of decision making and ethical tension among patients, staff, and family. Using theoretical models from linguistics, health communication, and health care ethics, multiple sources of data will be analyzed. Data sources currently include semistructured interviews with Ethiopian staff (n= 16), patients (n= 54), and family caregivers (n= 22); survey data on cancer awareness (n=150) and attitudes toward breaking bad news (n=450); and video recordings of medical consultations (n=45). In addition, we will develop clinical and methodological solutions to formulate educational interventions. Results The project was awarded funding by the Swedish Research Council in December 2017 for the period 2018 to 2021. The research ethics boards in Sweden and Ethiopia approved the project in May 2018. The results of the studies will be published in 2020 and 2021. Conclusions The project is the first step toward providing unique and seminal knowledge for the specific context of Ethiopia in the areas of physician-patient communication research and ethics. It contributes to the understanding of the complexity of the role of family and ethical challenges in relation to patient involvement and decision making in Ethiopia. Improved knowledge in this area can provide a fundamental model for ways to improve cancer care in many other low-resource settings in Africa and the Middle East, which share central cultural prerequisites, such as a strong patriarchal family structure, along with strong and devout religiosity. The project will also serve to develop greater understanding about the current challenges in Western health systems associated with greater family and patient participation in decision making. In addition, the project will contribute to improving the education of Ethiopian health professionals working in cancer care by developing a training program to help them better understand and respond to identified challenges associated with communication. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16493
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aynalem Abraha Woldemariam
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, School of Medicine, Health Science College, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abebe Bekele
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Christian Munthe
- Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Rune Andersson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bethlehem Girma Kebede
- Department of Applied Information Technology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Barbro Linderholm
- Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Wondemagegnhu Tigeneh
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, School of Medicine, Health Science College, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Communicative challenges among physicians, patients, and family caregivers in cancer care: An exploratory qualitative study in Ethiopia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230309. [PMID: 32168353 PMCID: PMC7069641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer is a growing concern in Ethiopia. Though communication is essential for the treatment process, few studies have looked at communication in Ethiopian cancer care. Due to the large number of patients and scarcity of resources, it is vital to understand how to manage consultations in order to effectively help as many patients as possible in this challenging work environment. Thus, research is needed to analyze and understand the communicative challenges experienced by physicians, patients, and family caregivers, in order to successfully handle patient care in practice. Objective We explore communication in Ethiopian cancer care and present the main challenges faced by physicians, patients, and family caregivers. Methods This explorative qualitative study was conducted at the Oncology Department of the Tikur Anbessa (Black Lion) Specialized Teaching Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A triangulation of data collection methods was used: 91 audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews and 21 video-recordings of authentic interactions during hospital rounds. The aim was to obtain as complete a picture as possible of communication from the perspectives of physicians, patients, and family caregivers. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis and the identified themes were supported by excerpts from the transcribed recordings. Results Eight themes emerged from the data. Workload and time pressure, in combination with restricted space for privacy, limited the possibilities for physicians to deliver detailed information and provide emotional support. Furthermore, patient literacy levels, in combination with no or little cancer awareness, financial problems, reliance on traditional and religious treatments, the stigma of cancer, and a fatalistic attitude, resulted in delays in patients seeking care and participating in positive health behaviors, and, subsequently, often resulted in an unwillingness to openly discuss problems with physicians and adhere to treatment. The study also illustrates the paramount role of family in physician-patient communication in Ethiopia. Though family caregivers provide a valuable interpreting support when patients have limited language skills, they can also prevent patients from sharing information with physicians. Another important finding is that family caregivers were often responsible for making decisions about treatment and avoided telling patients about a poor prognosis, believing that conveying bad news may upset them. All of these themes have important implications for the role of ethically acceptable communication in patient-centered care. Conclusions This study has identified a number of serious challenges for successful and ethically acceptable health communication in Ethiopian cancer care. The study contributes to our understanding of the complexity around the role of family, combined with patients’ dependency on family members for communication, support, and access to care, which creates particular ethical dilemmas for the medical staff. The questions raised by this study concern how to organize consultations to achieve patient-centered health communication, while maintaining a constructive alliance with the family and not jeopardizing the patient’s continued access to care. The integration of communication training for medical students in Ethiopia, with a focus on ethical guidelines for family-centered patient consultation suitable for these circumstances, would be an essential step.
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Gebremariam A, Addissie A, Worku A, Assefa M, Pace LE, Kantelhardt EJ, Jemal A. Time intervals experienced between first symptom recognition and pathologic diagnosis of breast cancer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e032228. [PMID: 31719089 PMCID: PMC6858206 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to estimate the magnitude of patient and diagnostic delays and associated factors among women with breast cancer in Addis Ababa. DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS All women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in seven major healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa (n=441) were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Patient interval (time from recognition of first symptom to medical consultation) and diagnostic interval (time from first consultation to diagnosis). Patient intervals >90 days and diagnostic intervals >30 days were considered delays, and associated factors were determined using multivariable Poisson regressions with robust variance. RESULTS Thirty-six percent (95% CI [31.1%, 40.3%]) of the patients had patient intervals of >90 days, and 69% (95% CI [64.6%, 73.3%]) of the patients had diagnostic intervals of >30 days. Diagnostic interval exceeded 1 year for 18% of patients. Ninety-five percent of the patients detected the first symptoms of breast cancer by themselves, with breast lump (78.0%) as the most common first symptom. Only 8.0% were concerned about cancer initially, with most attributing their symptoms to other factors. In the multivariable analysis, using traditional medicine before consultation was significantly associated with increased prevalence of patient delay (adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.13, 95% CI [1.68, 2.71]). First consultation at health centres (adjusted PR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.02, 1.39]) and visiting ≥4 facilities (adjusted PR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.10, 1.40]) were associated with higher prevalence of diagnostic delay. However, progression of symptoms before consultation (adjusted PR = 0.73, 95% CI [0.60, 0.90]) was associated with decreased prevalence of diagnostic delay. CONCLUSIONS Patients with breast cancer in Addis Ababa have prolonged patient and diagnostic intervals. These underscore the need for public health programme to increase knowledge about breast cancer symptoms and the importance of early presentation and early diagnosis among the general public and healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alem Gebremariam
- Public Health, Adigrat University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat, Ethiopia
- Preventive Medicine, Addis Ababa University School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Preventive Medicine, Addis Ababa University School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Alemayehu Worku
- Preventive Medicine, Addis Ababa University School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mathewos Assefa
- Radiotherapy Center, Addis Ababa University School of Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lydia E Pace
- Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachuset, USA
| | - Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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