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Title: | Influence of health insurance status on childhood cancer treatment outcomes in Kenya |
Authors: | Olbara, Gilbert Martijn, H.A. Njuguna, F. Langat, S. Martin, S. Skiles, J. Vik, T. Kaspers, G. J. L. Mostert, S. |
Keywords: | Health insurance Childhood cancer |
Issue Date: | 2020 |
Publisher: | Springer |
Abstract: | Background Survival of childhood cancer in high-income countries is approximately 80%, whereas in low-income countries, it is less than 10%. Limited access to health insurance in low-income settings may contribute to poor survival rates. This study evaluates the influence of health insurance status on childhood cancer treatment in a Kenyan academic hospital. Methods This was a retrospective study. All children diagnosed with a malignancy from 2010 until 2012 were included. Data on treatment outcomes and health insurance status at diagnosis were abstracted from patient charts. Results Of 280 patients, 34% abandoned treatment, 19% died, and 18% had progressive or relapsed disease resulting in 29% event-free survival. The majority of patients (65%) did not have health insurance at diagnosis. Treatment results differed significantly between patients with different health insurance status at diagnosis; 37% of uninsured versus 28% of insured patients abandoned treatment, and 24% of uninsured versus 37% of insured patients had event-free survival. The event-free survival estimate was significantly higher for patients with health insurance at diagnosis compared with those without (P = 0.004). Of patients without health insurance at diagnosis, 77% enrolled during treatment. Among those patients who later enrolled in health insurance, frequency of progressive or relapsed disease and deaths was significantly lower (P = 0.013, P < 0.001, respectively), while the event-free survival estimate was significantly higher (P < 0.001) compared with those who never enrolled. Conclusion Childhood cancer event-free survival was 29% at a Kenyan hospital. Children without health insurance had significant lower chance of event-free survival. Childhood cancer treatment outcomes could be ameliorated by strategies that prevent treatment abandonment and improve access to health insurance. |
URI: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-019-04859-1 http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/3639 |
Appears in Collections: | School of Medicine |
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