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African hospital-based paediatric palliative oncology care independent of economic indicators: an International Society of Paediatric Oncology Global Mapping Programme survey.
  • +8
  • Angidi Mauree,
  • Khumo Myezo,
  • Neil Ranasinghe,
  • Julia Challinor,
  • Rossella Bandini,
  • Kathryn Burns,
  • Katherine Eyal,
  • Julia Downing,
  • Kathy Pritchard-Jones,
  • Eric Bouffet,
  • Jennifer A. Geel
Angidi Mauree
University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Faculty of Health Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Khumo Myezo
University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Faculty of Health Sciences
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Neil Ranasinghe
International Society of Paediatric Oncology
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Julia Challinor
University of California San Francisco School of Nursing
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Rossella Bandini
University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Faculty of Health Sciences
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Kathryn Burns
Central European University Press
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Katherine Eyal
University of Cape Town Faculty of Commerce
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Julia Downing
Mulago National Referral Hospital
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Kathy Pritchard-Jones
University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
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Eric Bouffet
The Hospital for Sick Children Department of Dentistry
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Jennifer A. Geel
University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Faculty of Health Sciences
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Abstract

Background: Paediatric palliative care (PPC) is considered an essential component of the management of children and adolescents with cancer. The International Society of Paediatric Oncology Global Mapping Programme surveyed hospital-based paediatric oncology facilities across Africa from 2018-2020 to document PPC and provision of PPC services. Procedure: An electronic and paper survey were widely distributed to elicit the presence of components of PPC: PPC teams, bereavement counselling services, patient support groups, and spiritual and religious support. Results were correlated with the countries’ Gini coefficient, World Bank income status indicators and Human Development Index. Results: Hospital-based paediatric oncology facilities in 16/54 African countries reported having all four PPC services while those in 11 countries reported having none of the four PPC services. No clear correlations were found between provision of such services and selected economic factors. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that hospital-based paediatric oncology facilities with limited resources caring for children and adolescents can provide PPC. Adoption of the World Health Organisation’s conceptual framework for palliative care and knowledge transfer between African facilities on the integration of PPC into paediatric oncology care, would benefit the increasing numbers of children and adolescents with cancer across the continent.
13 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
13 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
13 Sep 2024Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
17 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major