Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions.

Autor: Omotoso O; Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Teibo JO; Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. johnteibo@usp.br.; Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. johnteibo@usp.br., Atiba FA; Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil., Oladimeji T; Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Paimo OK; Department of Biochemistry, College of Biosciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria., Ataya FS; Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Batiha GE; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, AlBeheira, 22511, Damanhour, Egypt., Alexiou A; Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, NSW, 2770, Hebersham, Australia.; AFNP Med, 1030, Wien, Austria.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: International journal for equity in health [Int J Equity Health] 2023 Sep 11; Vol. 22 (1), pp. 189. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 11.
DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01962-y
Abstrakt: Introduction: Cancer is a significant public health challenge globally, with nearly 2000 lives lost daily in Africa alone. Without adequate measures, mortality rates are likely to increase. The major challenge for cancer care in Africa is equity and prioritization, as cancer is not receiving adequate attention from policy-makers and strategic stakeholders in the healthcare space. This neglect is affecting the three primary tiers of cancer care: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment/management. To promote cancer care equity, addressing issues of equity and prioritization is crucial to ensure that everyone has an equal chance at cancer prevention, early detection, and appropriate care and follow-up treatment.
Methodology: Using available literature, we provide an overview of the current state of cancer care in Africa and recommendations to close the gap.
Results: We highlight several factors that contribute to cancer care inequity in Africa, including inadequate funding for cancer research, poor cancer education or awareness, inadequate screening or diagnostic facilities, lack of a well-organized and effective cancer registry system and access to care, shortage of specialized medical staff, high costs for screening, vaccination, and treatment, lack of technical capacity, poor vaccination response, and/or late presentation of patients for cancer screening. We also provide recommendations to address some of these obstacles to achieving cancer care equity. Our recommendations are divided into national-level initiatives and capacity-based initiatives, including cancer health promotion and awareness by healthcare professionals during every hospital visit, encouraging screening and vaccine uptake, ensuring operational regional and national cancer registries, improving healthcare budgeting for staff, equipment, and facilities, building expertise through specialty training, funding for cancer research, providing insurance coverage for cancer care, and implementing mobile health technology for telemedicine diagnosis.
Conclusion: Addressing challenges to cancer equity holistically would improve the likelihood of longer survival for cancer patients, lower the risk factors for groups that are already at risk, and ensure equitable access to cancer care on the continent. This study identifies the existing stance that African nations have on equity in cancer care, outlines the current constraints, and provides suggestions that could make the biggest difference in attaining equity in cancer care.
(© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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