Milena Foerster|Benjamin O. Anderson|Fiona McKenzie|Moses Galukande|Angelica A. Anele|Charles Adisa|Annelle Zietsman|Joachim Schüz|Isabel dos Santos Silva|Valerie McCormack
Inequities in breast cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa: findings from a prospective multi-country observational study
International Agency For Research On Cancer|Fred Hutch Cancer Center|International Agency For Research On Cancer|Makerere University|Federal Medical Centre|Abia State University|National Art Gallery of Namibia|International Agency For Research On Cancer|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|International Agency For Research On Cancer
improving breast cancer survival subsaharan africa ssa urgently needed requiring early diagnosis improved access treatment however data types barriers receiving breast cancer therapy region limited compared different ssa countries treatment settings different health care settings across uganda nigeria namibian sites prospective african breast cancer disparities outcomes cohort study assessed percentage newly diagnosed breast cancer patients received treatment systemic surgery andor radiotherapy cancer sociodemographic clinical determinants treatment data systematically extracted medical records well selfreported women 6month followup interviews used generate binary indicator treatment received within 12 months diagnosis yesno analysed via logistic regression 1325 women cancer treatment initiated treatment within 1 year diagnosis 227 17 women 185 14 women stage iiii disease untreated percentages highest two nigerian regional hospitals 38 314 women treated 32 among stage iiii national referral hospital uganda 18 430 women treated 15 among stage iiii contrast cancer care centre windhoek namibia treatment provided free patient nonblack 100 almost 987 black women initiated treatment percentages untreated women higher women lower socioeconomic groups women believed traditional medicine uganda hiv women selfreported treatment barriers confirmed treatment costs treatment refusal contributors receiving treatment financial support ensure treatment access education treatment benefits needed improve treatment access breast cancer patients across subsaharan africa especially regional treatment centres lower socioeconomic groups hivpositive woman breast cancer