Access to brachytherapy treatment for cervical cancer management in Africa

Abstract

Background and purpose

Cervical cancer is an important public health issue with a high incidence and death rate in Africa. It is mostly treated with Brachytherapy as the gold standard but its access is limited. This study set out to investigate the distribution and accessibility of brachytherapy units in Africa for the treatment of cervical cancer, and to provide some recommendations for increasing the quantity and accessibility of such equipment throughout the continent.

Materials and methods

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Division of Human Health’s Directory for radiotherapy Centers (DIRAC) was the principal source of data for this study. The number of brachytherapy equipment in the 54 African countries was obtained from the DIRAC database. The number of cervical cancer cases was obtained from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, and country’s income was calculated using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita from the global economics database. All of these searches were conducted in February 2024.

Results

Africa exhibited a greater number of cervical cancer cases. A total of one hundred (100) brachytherapy units were present across 84 radiotherapy centres spanning 20 African countries. Egypt and South Africa each possess 23 units, which accounts for 46% of the overall quantity. With just two brachytherapy facilities, Nigeria had the most cervical cancer cases. A significant quantity of brachytherapy unit was situated in countries of northern Africa. The quantity of these units varied among countries, from those without any to those with many, and was not only influenced by GDP per capita.

Conclusion

Due to the rising incidence of cervical cancer in Africa, the number of brachytherapy equipment was woefully inadequate. Consequently, Africa requires partnerships and financial support to facilitate the quantity and accessibility of brachytherapy services. This will enable the provision of thorough and holistic care to patients and enhance their quality of life.