Factors influencing delay to diagnosis and treatment among pediatric oncology patients at black lion specialized hospital, Ethiopia 2019
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: The worldwide incidence of childhood cancer is increasing and has become the leading cause of disease-related mortality in the developed countries. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, but in many low and middle-income countries only 20% are cured, including Ethiopia. Delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients may impact on poor prognosis and quality of life. In this study delay as classified in factors related to the patient and health care systems.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess factors influencing delay to diagnosis and initiation of treatment among pediatric oncology patients attending at black lion specialized hospital oncology unit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019.
Methods: This study was an institutional based cross-sectional study conducted on 244 pediatric cancer patients from February to April, 2019. Data was collected using structured questionnaire from parents or caregiver of the children through interview and supported from medical reviews. Bivariate and multivariate analysis using Odds ratio (OR) was utilized to evaluate association between dependent and independent variables. All statistical analysis was performed using STATA (Version 14), and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
Result: In this study 244 children participated in which the response rate was 100%. The mean age of child was 6.4 years (SD ± 3.2). With regards to prevalence of delay, 127(52.0%) were patient delay (> 30 days) and 104(42.6%) were having health system delay (>30 days). Factors that were the predictor of patient delay include: age, place of residence, diagnosis of the child and visit to traditional hillers showed significantly associated (P<0.05). Similarly, factors that were predictor of health system delay which were health insurance and child first seen in health center showed significantly associated (p <0.05).
Conclusion and Recommendations: The median Health care system related delay in our study was longer than patient-related delay. Design health education strategies to increase the level of awareness of the early signs of cancer among parents and the importance of early presentation at health facilities is recommended to condense patient delay. As a result, the education of health professionals on the symptoms suspicious of childhood cancer and timely investigation of suspicious clinical features for early diagnosis and initiation of definitive treatment is strongly indicated.
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Keywords
Pediatric oncology, cancer, delay to diagnosis, delay to treatment