Open AccessStaff Perspectives Toward Challenges in a Newly Established Cancer Center in Tanzania: A Qualitative Study
Author(s) -
Zainab Alwash,
Oliver Henke,
Furaha Serventi,
Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of global oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.002
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2378-9506
DOI - 10.1200/jgo.18.00246
Subject(s) - medicine , tanzania , qualitative research , center (category theory) , cancer , family medicine , medical education , socioeconomics , social science , sociology , chemistry , crystallography
Cancer is a growing public health concern in low-income countries (LICs). From 14 million new patient cases identified worldwide each year, 8 million are diagnosed in LICs. The fatality rate is 75% in LICs compared with 46% in high-income countries. Causes are low literacy levels, lack of awareness and knowledge about cancer, and limited education of health care professionals that leads to late detection and diagnosis. In Tanzania, cancer incidence will double to 60,000 in 2030. The referral hospital of Northern Tanzania established a new cancer unit in December 2016 to meet these needs. However, there is limited knowledge about perceptions of health care professionals toward cancer care in LICs. This study aims to understand attitudes and perspectives of those professionals and the treatment-related challenges in a newly established center to assist future efforts in this field.