Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and cancer: a narrative review of incidence, mortality, barriers to diagnosis and treatment, psychosocial needs and interventions

Abstract

Compared to adult cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, minimal research has focussed on cancer in Indigenous Australian children. This narrative review examined published information about incidence, mortality, barriers to diagnosis and treatment, and psychosocial needs and interventions for Indigenous Australian children with cancer. Most papers were epidemiological, investigating incidence and mortality. A reported lower overall cancer incidence in Indigenous Australian compared to non-Indigenous children may reflect detection bias. Some studies suggested differences in the incidence of types of cancers. There were conflicting findings about differences in mortality rates. Reported barriers to diagnosis and treatment include individual, systemic and cultural factors. There was a lack of published studies about psychosocial needs and interventions for Indigenous Australian children with cancer. Further research is needed to better understand complexities in the presentation of cancer in Indigenous Australian children and identify their psychosocial needs to ensure interventions are relevant and holistic.