The burden of gynecological cancer management in Northern Nigeria

Adekunle O. Oguntayo, Marliya Zayyan, Mattew Akpar, Abimbola O. D. Kolawole, Sunday A. Adewuyi

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ahmadu Bello University, Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
Radiation Oncology, Ahmadu Bello University, Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojog.2013.38115                

Abstract

Background: Carcinoma of the Cervix is one of the gynecologic cancers. Gynecological cancer is a scourge in the developing nations because of the burden of cervical cancer. Carcinoma of the cervix is the leading cause of cancer death in women. The costs of treatment of cancers generally are very high and this has made care very difficult in the developing nations. The question therefore is who bears the cost and whose responsibilities? Aims and Objective: To study the economic burden of cancers on the patient, and how they source for these funds. To determine how the lack of funds or otherwise has affected their care. To assess their perception of who should bear the cost of this care. Methodology: It is a prospective study of all consecutive patients that attended the Gynecologic clinic of our unit between 2^nd January 2010 and 30^th June 2010. Data were analyzed using Excel statistical package. Result: A total of 93 patients were interviewed. A majority of 70 (76%) of the patients had Carcinoma of the cervix. The mean age of there husbands was 58 years. Most of them were either farmers (21%) or retired civil/public servants (15%) and earn between 700 - 1700 dollars per year. A large group of the patients were full time House wives (48%), while Petty trading and farming account for 13.3% each. The women earn less than 500 dollars per year. Only 50% received assistance, from family members (35.8%) or relatives (29.6%). More than 50% of them have spent between 1000 - 3000 dollars for their health bills. It was sad to note that 40% of them have no hope of help/assistance from anywhere. A majority of 83.3% believe that the government should come to their aids. Conclusion: In the developing nations, poverty still remains major problem, where people still earn less than a dollar per day. In essence prevention is paramount; otherwise most of our women who escaped maternal mortality may end up being a victim of cancer death.

Keywords

Burden; Cancers Gynecological; Northern; Nigeria

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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