Global Inequities in Unpaid Cancer Caregiving: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis of Time and Cost Burden.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unpaid caregiving is a critical but often under-recognised component of the cancer care continuum. As cancer prevalence rises globally, particularly in lower-income countries, quantifying the time and economic burden of unpaid caregiving across regions is essential for health resource planning, economic participation and support services. This systematic review aimed to quantify the global burden of unpaid cancer caring by examining care hours and associated costs, disaggregated by country income level based on the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI).

Methods

We systematically searched databases for studies published up to January 2026 that reported unpaid cancer caregiving hours and/or costs. Data were extracted and synthesised narratively, and where appropriate, poole

SUBMITTER: Gao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12928049 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature