Barriers to radiotherapy access at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Nigeria has the biggest gap between radiotherapy availability and need, with one machine per 19.4 million people, compared to one machine per 250,000 people in high-income countries. This study aims to identify its patient-level barriers to radiotherapy access.

Material and methods

This was a cross sectional study consisting of patient questionnaires (n = 50) conducted in January 2016 to assess patient demographics, types of cancers seen, barriers to receiving radiotherapy, health beliefs and practices, and factors leading to treatment delay.

Results

Eighty percent of patients could not afford radiotherapy without financial assistance and only 6% of the patients had federal insurance, which did not cover radiotherapy services. Of the patients who h

SUBMITTER: Anakwenze CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5833915 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature