Abstract 85: The Social and Economic Impact of a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis on Women and Children in Uganda
Authors: Dau Hallie , Nakyazze Shamim , Naguti Priscilla , McNair Avery , Payne Beth , Vidler Marianne , Singer Joel , Smith Laurie , Orem Jackson , Nakisige Carolyn , Ogilvie Gina 
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer for women living in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In Uganda 40% of all female cancer cases are cervical cancer. There is a need for more research on the social and economic impacts of cervical cancer in LMICs in order to provide evidence for expanded cervical cancer screening programs. The goal of this study is the understand the economic impact of cervical cancer on women and children in Uganda.

Methods: Data collection for this study began in September and will continue until December 2022. Participants were recruited by nurses at two clinics at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala and Jinja. Participants were eligible if they are being treated for cervical cancer and speak either English, Lusoga, Luo, Runyankore, or Luganda. Each participant completed a 45-minute orally administered survey on REDCap. Descriptive statistics using counts and frequencies were used to describe primary outcomes which include changes in a child’s education and a family’s economic status. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of British Columbia, Uganda Cancer Institute, and Uganda National Council for Science & Technology.

Results: To date 67 participants have completed the survey and 57 indicated that they had children living in their household. The mean age of participants is 49 years. The majority of participants are married, have a primary school education or less, and were diagnosed with stage II or stage III cancer. Women reported traveling up to 14 hours to receive cancer treatment and 28% (n=19) brought their child with them to the clinic because they could not find childcare. In all, 93% (n=62) of women indicated that they have paid out of pocket for some type of medical care with 15% (n=9) of women noting that they stopped at least one treatment because of the cost. Approximately 15% of women reported that they cut down on food consumed and withdrew their child from school to help pay for cancer care.

Conclusion: We found that a cervical cancer diagnosis has not only on women, but their children as well, confirming that while largely preventable, cervical cancer has far-reaching impact beyond the woman diagnosed. The results of this study can be used to provide further evidence of the urgent need expand cervical cancer screening programs not only in Uganda, but similar countries as well. This in turn will help contribute to the eventual global elimination of cervical cancer.

Citation Format: Hallie Dau, Shamim Nakyazze, Priscilla Naguti, Avery McNair, Beth Payne, Marianne Vidler, Joel Singer, Laurie Smith, Jackson Orem, Carolyn Nakisige, Gina Ogilvie. The Social and Economic Impact of a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis on Women and Children in Uganda [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 85.