Abstract
BackgroundKenya like other developing countries is low in resource setting and is facing a number of challenges in the management of cervical cancer. This study documents opportunities and challenges encountered in managing cervical cancer from the health care workers’ perspectives. A qualitative study was conducted among cervical cancer managers who were defined as nurses and doctors involved in operational level management of cervical cancer. The respondents were drawn from four provincial hospitals and the only two main National public referral hospitals in Kenya. Twenty one [21] nurse managers and twelve [12] medical doctors were interviewed using a standardized interview guide. The responses were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and the content analyzed in emerging themes.FindingsFour themes were identified. Patient related challenges included a large number of patients, presenting in the late stage of disease, low levels of knowledge on cancer of the cervix, low levels of screening and a poor attitude towards screening procedure. Individual health care providers identified a lack of specialised training, difficulty in disclosure of diagnosis to patients, a poor attitude towards cervical cancer screening procedure and a poor attitude towards cervical cancer patients. Health facilities were lacking in infrastructure and medical supplies. Some managers felt ill-equipped in technological skills while the majority lacked access to the internet. Mobile phones were identified as having great potential for improving the management of cervical cancer in Kenya.ConclusionKenya faces a myriad of challenges in the management of cervical cancer. The peculiar negative attitude towards screening procedure and the negative attitude of some managers towards cervical cancer patients need urgent attention. The potential use of mobile phones in cervical cancer management should be explored.
Highlights
Kenya like other developing countries is low in resource setting and is facing a number of challenges in the management of cervical cancer
Kenya faces a myriad of challenges in the management of cervical cancer
The provincial hospitals were: Kisumu Provincial General Hospital [PGH] located in the western region/Nyanza province with a bed capacity of 457, Coast PGH with a 499 bed capacity, Nakuru PGH located in the Rift Valley Province which has a bed capacity of 588 while Embu PGH has a bed capacity of 618 and is located in the Eastern Province of Kenya
Summary
Kenya like other developing countries is low in resource setting and is facing a number of challenges in the management of cervical cancer. This study documents opportunities and challenges encountered in managing cervical cancer from the health care workers’ perspectives. It is important that Kenya as a country puts preventive and intervention measures in place in order to deal with the disease burden from cervical cancer. Like other developing countries, is low in resource setting and is facing a number of challenges in managing cervical cancer. Makin et al [2] identified challenges associated with screening, ranging from low levels of cervical cancer. Public Hospitals make use of Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Visual Inspection with Lugol’s Iodine (VILLI) as screening methods in low resource settings and results are available immediately. Of the few women who undergo screening, a large portion of them do not return for their test results [5]
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