Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41107757›Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2025

Barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer in Sub-Sahara Africa: a qualitative systematic review.

Abraham Tamirat Gizaw, Indryas Woldie, Abebayehu N Yilma, Mulualem Tadesse, Assefa Legesse Sisay, Feyissa Mama Sebero, Henok Gulilat Azalework, Daniel Dana, Pradeep Sopory, Diriba Fufa Hordofa

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Observational
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

10 authors.

Abraham Tamirat GizawInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. abraham.tamirat@ju.edu.et.
Indryas WoldieHematology-Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Abebayehu N YilmaDepartment of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA.
Mulualem TadesseInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Assefa Legesse SisayInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Feyissa Mama SeberoInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Henok Gulilat AzaleworkInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Daniel DanaInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Pradeep SoporyDepartment of Communication, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Diriba Fufa HordofaInstitute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildhood cancers pose a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to complex interlinked socioeconomic factors that contribute to delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and unacceptable survival rates. This systematic review aims to present insights into the barriers to receiving timely diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancers in SSA.

methodsA systematic literature search was conducted for published full-text articles from January 2000 to June 2024 in SSA across three databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We used a qualitative synthesis approach to examine the barriers and reasons for delays in seeking, reaching, or receiving quality care.

resultsWe identified 12 studies, of which 10 focused on all types of childhood cancer, retinoblastoma, and leukemia. When exploring barriers contributing to delays, eight key themes emerged from the data. The first theme was health service barriers, which included: poor cancer care and health system delays; lack of diagnostic and therapeutic services; and lack of childhood cancer policy. The second theme was healthcare provider-related barriers, which included inadequate knowledge of diagnosis and characterization; service burden and lack of training in cancer screening and diagnosis. The third to eighth themes were limited understanding of childhood cancer among the population (theme 3), financial challenges/household poverty (theme 4), emotional and psychological challenges (theme 5), poor healthcare-seeking behavior (theme 6), stigma and discrimination (theme 7), and limited social support and cultural beliefs (theme 8).

conclusionsBarriers that contributed to the delay in the timely diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer were healthcare provider-related barriers, limited understanding of childhood cancer, financial challenges/household poverty, emotional and psychological challenges, poor healthcare-seeking behavior, stigma and discrimination, and limited social support and cultural beliefs. Therefore, targeted education campaigns, community outreach programs, and policy changes to mitigate these barriers and improve outcomes for children with cancer are important.

Indexed as

Delayed DiagnosisHealth Services AccessibilityNeoplasmsTime-to-TreatmentAfrica South of the SaharaChildEarly Detection of CancerHumansPatient Acceptance of Health CareQualitative ResearchBarriersCancerChildhoodDelaysDiagnosisSub-Saharan africaTreatment

Identifiers

PMID41107757
PMCPMC12534927

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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.