Emmanuel Z Chona, Rashid A Gosse, Emanueli Amosi Msengi, Therese Polin Aruldhas, Lutengano Mkonongo, Timotheo Meshark Matle, Masunga K Iseselo, Joel Seme Ambikile
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears the highest global burden of cervical cancer. Living with the disease is a complex experience, leading to significant changes across various biopsychosocial dimensions, which in turn affect the quality of life of affected women.
Aims: This review aimed to synthesize available scientific evidence on the life experiences of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in SSA in order to generate valuable insights into the care of the affected population.
Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched in August 2024, supplemented by manual reference list searching and snowballing to identify additional relevant studies. The eligibility criteria for inclusion were studies that sampled women (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with cervical cancer, used qualitative methodology, explored life experiences with cervical cancer as a primary aim, and were published between January 2015 and August 2024. The 10-item Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of individual studies. The findings of the studies were thematically synthesized to generate analytical themes.
Results: A total of 14 studies were included, with the largest proportion of studies conducted in Ghana and South Africa. Four main themes highlighting the life experiences of women diagnosed with cervical cancer emerged from the synthesis: physical and psychosexual disruptions, knowledge of cervical cancer, socio-economic challenges, and treatment experiences.
Conclusions: The findings highlight the profound physical, psychological, sexual, and socio-economic experiences of cervical cancer on women in SSA. To improve cervical cancer outcomes in the region, it is crucial to provide comprehensive, culturally sensitive care that emphasizes public awareness, early detection, psychological support, socio-economic interventions, and both curative and palliative treatment options.
期刊介绍：
Psycho-Oncology is concerned with the psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of cancer. This subspeciality addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease, and that of their families and caretakers; and the psychological, behavioral and social factors that may influence the disease process. Psycho-oncology is an area of multi-disciplinary interest and has boundaries with the major specialities in oncology: the clinical disciplines (surgery, medicine, pediatrics, radiotherapy), epidemiology, immunology, endocrinology, biology, pathology, bioethics, palliative care, rehabilitation medicine, clinical trials research and decision making, as well as psychiatry and psychology.
This international journal is published twelve times a year and will consider contributions to research of clinical and theoretical interest. Topics covered are wide-ranging and relate to the psychosocial aspects of cancer and AIDS-related tumors, including: epidemiology, quality of life, palliative and supportive care, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, social work, nursing and educational issues.
Special reviews are offered from time to time. There is a section reviewing recently published books. A society news section is available for the dissemination of information relating to meetings, conferences and other society-related topics. Summary proceedings of important national and international symposia falling within the aims of the journal are presented.
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