The socioeconomic burden of a diagnosis of cervical cancer in women in rural Uganda: findings from a descriptive qualitative study
Journal article
Germans, Natuhwera, Ellis, Peter, Wilson, Stanley, Merriman, Anne and Rabwoni, Martha 2022. The socioeconomic burden of a diagnosis of cervical cancer in women in rural Uganda: findings from a descriptive qualitative study. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 28 (7), pp. 322-332. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2022.28.7.322
| Authors | Germans, Natuhwera, Ellis, Peter, Wilson, Stanley, Merriman, Anne and Rabwoni, Martha |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Aim: The aim of the study was to diagnose the socioeconomic burden and impact of a diagnosis of cervical cancer in rural women in the context of a low-resourced country, Uganda, through a descriptive qualitative enquiry. Methods: This was a multi-site descriptive qualitative inquiry, conducted at three hospice settings; Mobile Hospice Mbarara in the Southwest, Little Hospice Hoima in Midwest, and Hospice Africa Uganda Kampala in Central Uganda. A purposive sample of women with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer were recruited. Data were collected using open-ended audio-recorded interviews conducted in the native languages of the participants. Interviews were transcribed verbatim in English. Braun and Clarke's (2019) framework of thematic analysis was used. Results: A total of 13 women, with mean age 49.2 years (range 29–71), participated in the study. All participants were of low socioeconomic status. The majority (84.6%) had advanced disease at diagnosis. A detailed reading of transcripts produced three major themes: (1) the impact of cervical cancer on women's relationships (2) the disrupted and impaired activities of daily living (ADLs), and (3) economic disruptions. Conclusions: A diagnosis of cervical cancer introduces significant socioeconomic disruptions in a woman's and her family's life. Cervical cancer causes disability, impairs the woman and her family's productivity and exacerbates levels of poverty in the home. High and expensive out-of-pocket expenditure on investigations, treatments and transport costs further compound the socioeconomic burden. |
| Keywords | Cervical cancer; Uganda; Economics; Public health |
| Year | 2022 |
| Journal | International Journal of Palliative Nursing |
| Journal citation | 28 (7), pp. 322-332 |
| Publisher | Mark Allen Group |
| ISSN | 1357-6321 |
| 2052-286X | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2022.28.7.322 |
| Official URL | https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/ijpn.2022.28.7.322 |
| Publication dates | |
| Online | 02 Jul 2022 |
| 02 Jul 2022 | |
| Publication process dates | |
| Deposited | 03 Aug 2022 |
| Output status | Published |
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/91z12/the-socioeconomic-burden-of-a-diagnosis-of-cervical-cancer-in-women-in-rural-uganda-findings-from-a-descriptive-qualitative-study
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