Authors: India Pumphrey,Furaha Serventi, Atukuzwe Kahakwa, Anna Massawe, Antje Annaliese Henke, and Oliver Henke
This study sought to ascertain how the COVID-19 pandemic was perceived by oncology patients and CHWs and whether this contributed to disruptions in cancer care in Northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted using structured telephone interviews with patients and structured questionnaires completed by CHWs. Primary outcomes for patients included missed appointments and reported fears of COVID-19. . Data collected from CHWs demonstrated that 30% of patients said they missed appointments due to the pandemic, with the most commonly cited reasons being financial problems and fear of acquiring COVID-19 infection during travel and/or in the hospital. A total of 88% of CHWs also reported noticing differences in delivering home care since the start of the pandemic, with 58% saying they had noticed more patients dying and 74% saying that more patients were relying on local healers. These findings emphasize the importance of equipping the CHW workforce to facilitate sustained access to and use of vital cancer services, particularly during periods of disruption caused by disease outbreaks.
Link: Impact of COVID-19 on delivery of oncology services in Northern Tanzania: a cross-sectional study of community health workers and patients undergoing cancer treatment at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
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Resource Topic: CHW, COVID-19, Oncology services
Resource Type: Research
Year: 2023
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Country: Tanzania
Publisher May Restrict Access: No