ArticleBMJ open2021
Surveying and mapping breast cancer services in Ghana: a cross-sectional pilot study in the Eastern Region.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Access to Radiation Therapy and Related Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Cervical and Breast Cancer Across Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.JCO global oncology · 2023Pooled it
- Factors Driving Low Rates of Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.Journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2026Review
- Breast Cancer Care in Ghana: A Review of the Continuum of Care and Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage.International journal of breast cancer · 2026Review
- Impact of Distinct Molecular and Immunological Features of Breast Cancer on the Effectiveness of Therapies in Ghana.Breast cancer : basic and clinical research · 2026Review
- Barriers to Breast Cancer Care for Women Presenting at District and Regional-Level Hospitals in Ghana: Findings From the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes Ghana Study.JCO global oncology · 2025Review
- Multilevel factors associated with clinical breast examination uptake among women in the Northern Region of Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.BMC cancer · 2025Article
- Unveiling the Stroma: Reproductive Factors and the Tumor Microenvironment in African Breast Cancer.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2025Article
- Mammography and Breast Ultrasonography Services in Ghana, Availability, and Geographic Access.JCO global oncology · 2024Article
- Availability and Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Breast Cancer Diagnostic Services in Ghana.JCO global oncology · 2024Article
- Article
- Study protocol for the development of a real-time interface showing the availability of breast and cervical cancer services in Ghana.PloS one · 2024Article
- Geospatial availability of breast cancer treatment modalities and hypothetical access improvement in Ghana: A nationwide survey.PloS one · 2023Article
- Geographic information systems for occupational cancer surveillance: a scoping review.Revista CuidarteReview
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors at 4 institutions in 5 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesDefine the services available for the care of breast cancer at hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana, identify areas of the region with limited access to care through geospatial mapping, and test a novel survey instrument in anticipation of a nationwide scale up of the study.
designA cross-sectional, facility-based survey study.
settingThis study was conducted at 33 of the 34 hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana from March 2020 to May 2020.
participantsThe 33 hospitals surveyed represented 97% of all hospitals in the region. This included private, government, quasi-government and faith-based organisation owned hospitals.
resultsSixteen hospitals (82%) surveyed provided basic screening services, 11 (33%) provided pathological diagnosis and 3 (9%) provided those services in addition to basic surgical care.53%, 64% and 78% of the population lived within 10 km, 25 km and 45 km of screening, diagnostic and treatment services respectively. Limited chemotherapy was available at two hospitals (6%), endocrine therapy at one hospital (3%) and radiotherapy was not available. Twenty-nine hospitals (88%) employed a general practitioner and 13 (39%) employed a surgeon. Oncology specialists, pathology personnel and a plastic surgeon were only available in one hospital (3%) in the Eastern Region.
conclusionsAlthough 16 hospitals (82%) provided screening, only half the population lived within reasonable distance of these services. Few hospitals offered diagnosis and surgical services, but 64% and 78% of the population lived within a reasonable distance of these hospitals. Geospatial analysis suggested two priorities to cost-effectively expand breast cancer services: (1) increase the number of health facilities providing screening services and (2) centralise basic imaging, pathological and surgical services at targeted hospitals.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.