Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40426065›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

Barriers and opportunities related to access to oncology care in Benin: a qualitative study on breast cancer.

Clémence Schantz, Freddy Houéhanou Rodrigue Gnangnon, Moufalilou Aboubakar, Anthelme Kouessi Agbodande, Paloma Puig, Justin Lewis Denakpo, Angéline Tonato Bagnan, Marie Bottin, Komi Mena Agbodjavou, Hélène Robin Sacca and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Clémence SchantzUniversité Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, Paris, F-75 006, France. Clemence.schantz@ird.fr.
Freddy Houéhanou Rodrigue GnangnonLaboratoire d'Epidémiologie des Maladies Chroniques et Neurologiques (LEMACEN), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
Moufalilou AboubakarCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Mère et de l'Enfant Lagune (CHU-MEL), Cotonou, Benin.
Anthelme Kouessi AgbodandeCentre National Hospitalier Universitaire Hubert K. Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin.
Paloma PuigUniversité Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, Paris, F-75 006, France.
Justin Lewis DenakpoCentre National Hospitalier Universitaire Hubert K. Maga (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin.
Angéline Tonato BagnanCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Mère et de l'Enfant Lagune (CHU-MEL), Cotonou, Benin.
Marie BottinUniversité Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, Paris, F-75 006, France.
Komi Mena AgbodjavouCentre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en Démographie (Cerrhud), Cotonou, Benin.
Hélène Robin SaccaLaboratoire d'Epidémiologie des Maladies Chroniques et Neurologiques (LEMACEN), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
Luis TeixeiraDepartment of Senology, Université Paris Cité, Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer Team, INSERM U976, HIPI, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Valéry RiddeUniversité Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, Paris, F-75 006, France.
SENOVIE group

Funding

Cité du Genre IdEx University of Paris, ANR-18-IDEX-0001French Collaborative Institute on Migration ANR-17- CONV-0001Institut National Du Cancer DA N°2022-135 SCHANTZ
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBreast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, including in Africa. Oncology is a relatively new discipline in many West African countries, particularly in Benin. There is currently a lack of data concerning the current state of cancer care infrastructure and oncology practices within these countries. The aim of the article is to describe the barriers and opportunities related to access to oncology care in Benin.

methodsWe employed a qualitative research design. Fifty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers treating cancer (n=26), women with breast cancer (n=23), and representatives of associations (n=2). Additionally, 18 days of participant observation were conducted in a chemotherapy and palliative care departments in Cotonou, Benin. The data was analysed using Levesque et al.'s theoretical framework on access to healthcare.

resultsWomen encounter obstacles such as delayed diagnosis and unequal access to information, as well as socio-cultural beliefs that favour traditional medicine and discourage surgical interventions like mastectomy. The treatment pathway is often chaotic due to insufficient specialised caregivers and limited infrastructure, with services centralised in Cotonou forcing patients to travel long distances around the country. The current lack of radiotherapy requires patients in need to travel abroad for treatment. High costs of biomedical tests and treatments often lead to care abandonment, worsening health inequalities. However, positive changes should be highlighted, such as the establishment of the Inter-University Diploma in Gynaecological and Breast Oncology in 2013, the expansion of palliative care services in the country, and the planned opening of the Calavi International Hospital Centre in 2025. Challenges include continuing to train health professionals in oncology, further developing health financing and supporting civil society to raise awareness of breast cancer.

conclusionsBenin is facing several challenges in relation to the provision of timely and high-quality care for women with breast cancer. However, there is a growing commitment to enhancing breast cancer care in Benin.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsHealth Services AccessibilityMedical OncologyAdultAgedBeninFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPalliative CareQualitative ResearchAccess to careAfricaBarriersBeninBreastCancerOpportunities

Identifiers

PMID40426065
PMCPMC12107913

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.