Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
Factors influencing diagnostic delays of pediatric cancers in Botswana
Kendall Carpenter1, Amanda K Slone2, Michael Scheuer2,3
1Princeton in Africa Fellowship, Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana.
Insights
Pediatric cancer diagnosis in Botswana takes over three months, often leading to metastasis. Improving caregiver and healthcare provider awareness of childhood cancer symptoms is crucial for earlier detection and better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Global Health
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Timely access to cancer care is a significant challenge in low- and middle-income countries like Botswana.
- Understanding diagnostic delays for pediatric cancers is essential for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the time to diagnosis for pediatric cancers in Botswana.
- To identify factors contributing to diagnostic delays in this population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Botswana Pediatric Oncology Database (2008-2015).
- Calculated were time to diagnosis, pretreatment center delay, and pathology turnaround time.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed associations between diagnostic delay and various factors.
Main Results:
- Median time to diagnosis was 10.7 weeks; median pretreatment center delay was 9.6 weeks; median pathology turnaround time was 3 weeks.
- Longer time to diagnosis was significantly correlated with the presence of metastasis at diagnosis.
- No significant associations were found between diagnostic delay and age, sex, distance to treatment, HIV status, cancer type, or outcome.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric cancer patients in Botswana experience diagnostic delays exceeding three months, correlating with metastasis.
- Increased awareness of pediatric cancer symptoms among caregivers and healthcare providers is vital to reduce presentation delays.
Background:
A major barrier in improving cancer outcomes in Botswana and other low- and middle-income countries is timely access to care. Understanding time to diagnosis of pediatric cancers in Botswana and evaluating factors contributing to delays was necessary to inform interventions.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with cancer at Princess Marina Hospital from 2008 to 2015 was performed utilizing the Botswana Pediatric Oncology Database. The time to diagnosis, pretreatment center delay, and pathology turnaround time were calculated. Time to diagnosis was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses to determine association with age, sex, distance to a treatment center, HIV status, cancer type, outcome, and presence of metastasis at diagnosis.
Results:
The median time to diagnosis was 10.7 weeks, median pretreatment center delay was 9.6 weeks, and median pathology turnaround time was 3 weeks. Longer time to diagnosis was significantly correlated with presence of metastasis at diagnosis. Age, sex, distance to a treatment center, HIV status, cancer type, and outcome were not significantly associated with diagnostic delay.
Conclusion:
Children with cancer in Botswana have more than three months of symptoms prior to diagnosis, which is associated with metastasis at diagnosis. Efforts should be made to empower and promote awareness of pediatric cancer symptoms among caregivers and community healthcare providers in order to shorten time to presentation at a treatment center.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis