Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions
Abstract 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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01962-y |
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| author | Olabode Omotoso John Oluwafemi Teibo Festus Adebayo Atiba Tolulope Oladimeji Oluwatomiwa Kehinde Paimo Farid S. Ataya Gaber El-Saber Batiha Athanasios Alexiou |
| author_facet | Olabode Omotoso John Oluwafemi Teibo Festus Adebayo Atiba Tolulope Oladimeji Oluwatomiwa Kehinde Paimo Farid S. Ataya Gaber El-Saber Batiha Athanasios Alexiou |
| author_sort | Olabode Omotoso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-42be05e8c0b04b518c497655433a4565 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-42be05e8c0b04b518c497655433a45652025-01-12T12:12:15ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762023-09-0122111410.1186/s12939-023-01962-yAddressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutionsOlabode Omotoso0John Oluwafemi Teibo1Festus Adebayo Atiba2Tolulope Oladimeji3Oluwatomiwa Kehinde Paimo4Farid S. Ataya5Gaber El-Saber Batiha6Athanasios Alexiou7Department of Biochemistry, University of IbadanDepartment of Biochemistry, University of IbadanDepartment of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São PauloDepartment of Zoology, University of IbadanDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Biosciences, Federal University of AgricultureDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour UniversityDepartment of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational FoundationAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01962-yCancer careAfricaDisease burdenEquityPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Olabode Omotoso John Oluwafemi Teibo Festus Adebayo Atiba Tolulope Oladimeji Oluwatomiwa Kehinde Paimo Farid S. Ataya Gaber El-Saber Batiha Athanasios Alexiou Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions International Journal for Equity in Health Cancer care Africa Disease burden Equity Public health |
| title | Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions |
| title_full | Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions |
| title_fullStr | Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions |
| title_short | Addressing cancer care inequities in sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions |
| title_sort | addressing cancer care inequities in sub saharan africa current challenges and proposed solutions |
| topic | Cancer care Africa Disease burden Equity Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01962-y |
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