A review of factors influencing the uptake of prostate cancer treatment in Nigeria

• Published in: Journal of cancer policy 2024-09, Vol.41, p.100487, Article 100487
• Main Authors: Iheanacho, Chinonyerem O., Odili, Valentine U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Influencing factors; Male; Nigeria; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - therapy; Treatment uptake
• ISSN: 2213-5383; 2213-5383
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100487

The uptake of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment determines the disease course, but is influenced by several factors. This review assessed the factors that influence the uptake of PCa treatments in Nigeria, with a view to providing evidence for policies and other interventional approaches that enhance treatment uptake and PCa outcomes. A review of relevant articles retrieved from electronic databases of Web of science, PubMed, Google scholar, African Journals online and Hinari was performed using relevant keywords. Relevant studies were also extracted from the bibliographic references of the identified studies. Peer-reviewed published articles that reported any associated factor to the uptake or utilisation of PCa treatment options from 2000 to 2023 were considered eligible, and the most pertinent reports were extracted and incorporated into this review. The uptake of PCa treatment options was observed to be dependent on several factors which could be grouped as economic, system-related and patient-related factors. Among these were the availability of treatment options and targeted therapies, cost and financial constraints, system-related barriers, funding gaps and lack of insurance coverage, patients’ beliefs and perceptions, access to radiotherapy services and access to PCa screening. Several influencing factors posed barriers to the timely uptake of PCa treatment. Policies and strategies aimed at reducing or preventing these barriers are solicited from relevant stakeholders. •The uptake of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment determines the disease course, but is influenced by several factors.•Cost, financial constraints and funding gaps majorly influence the uptake of PCa treatments.•Non-insurance coverage, system-related and other patient-related factors are also notable influencing factors.•Therefore, policies that reduce these influencing barriers will improve PCa outcomes.