Factors associated with late-stage presentation of cervical cancer in Ghana.
Ghana Med J
; 56(2): 86-94, 2022 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37449260
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To explore factors associated with late clinical presentation among Ghanaian women with cervical cancer.Design:
This is a cross-sectional survey using a paper questionnaire.Setting:
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana.Participants:
Participants were women presenting for cervical cancer care at KATH. Inclusion criteria were histologically diagnosed cervical cancer and age ≥18 years. The exclusion criteria was age <18. All women presenting from August 2018-August 2019 were recruited. Main outcomemeasures:
The primary outcome was the proportion of participants presenting with late-stage cervical cancer, defined as stage II or higher.Results:
Of 351 total participants, 33.6% were unemployed, 35.3% had no formal education, and 96.6% had an average monthly income of less than five hundred Ghana cedis ($86 USD). Time from symptoms to seeing a doctor ranged from fewer than two weeks (16.0%) to more than twelve months (8.6%). Participants' most common barrier in seeking healthcare was financial constraints (50.0%). Most participants presented at late-stage cervical cancer (95.2%, n=334), with only 4.8% (n=17) presenting at stage I. Of participants presenting with late-stage cervical cancer, the vast majority had never had a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear (99.1%) nor a recent gynecologic exam (99.3%). After adjusting for age, parity, and distance to a healthcare facility, a late-stage presentation was associated with lower income and living in a rural area.Conclusions:
In Ghana, 95% of women with cervical cancer seek care at a late clinical stage, defined as stage II or greater, when the cancer is inoperable.Funding:
None declared.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias do Colo do Útero
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article