Submission ID 131976
| Issue/Objective | As of 2025, Uganda estimates 3,000 new pediatric cancer (PC) diagnoses annually; however, only 30% are reaching treatment, with most presenting at late-stage disease. Although Uganda aims to raise PC survival to 60% by 2030, its National Cancer Control Plan and Child and Adolescent Cancer Control Strategy emphasize facility-based care and lack pediatric-specific, community-based strategies. To address this, SSA community-based approaches were analyzed, including mass media, health promotion, provider-focused interventions, and interdisciplinary partnerships. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | A structured review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Wiley Online, and Queen's Omni, focusing on SSA (2015-2025). Studies on cancer awareness and community interventions were included. Fourty-six sources (peer-reviewed, grey literature, and regional models) were analyzed. One adult program was analyzed for pediatric transferability. A needs assessment was also conducted. |
| Results | The Uganda PC landscape needs assessment identified gaps in caregiver awareness, provider knowledge, referral systems, and diagnostics, with limited public-facing strategies for rural communities. Analysis emphasized that mass media, community healthcare workers, provider-focused interventions, and interdisciplinary partnerships improve timely access to PC care, when compounded with holistic, system-wide support. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Culturally tailored mass media campaigns (MMC) address upstream health equity determinants by increasing awareness, symptom recognition, and screening uptake. Radio, SMS, and community campaigns reach large populations and demonstrate scalability, but impact depends on healthcare system accessibility and responsiveness, and simultaneous implementation of additional supportive interventions to facilitate action. Strengthening frontline provider capacity improves early detection and referral within primary care. Blended training models, decision-support tools, and referral algorithms reduce delays by improving case identification and enhancing accountability. However, sustainable impact requires system-level support, including transport, navigation, and decentralized oncology services. Community-driven partnerships address structural inequities by leveraging local networks, including faith institutions, schools, and traditional healers. These approaches improve care-seeking behaviours, support treatment adherence, and enhance resilience and cultural relevance. These findings highlight scalable strategies to advance equitable PC care by embedding oncology into national systems, strengthening health infrastructure, and prioritizing community-led innovation to address upstream barriers. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Julia Apolot Queen's University Dream Tuitt-Barnes Queen's University Jason Rudahusa Queen's University Angel Qiu Queen's University Annie Wu Queen's University Alisha Varty-Higgs Queen's University Hadi Alhasani Queen's University Julie Martinovic Queen's University Parita Talati Queen's University Sabrina Robertson Queen's University Makayla Duff Queen's University Denize D'Souza Queen's University Anushka Kalia Queen's University Salem Cherif Queen's University Rinusha Piranthapan Queen's University Olivia Walker Queen's University Munmeet Paur Queen's University Fatima Mohammed Queen's University Megan Lerulli Queen's University |
