Understanding Cancer Mortality Rates In Ghana : Socio-Economic Underlying Causes And Mitigations

 Understanding Cancer Mortality Rates In Ghana : Socio-Economic Underlying Causes And Mitigations

Introduction

Cancer is a major global health problem and one of the leading causes of death around the world but has emerged as an important public health challenge in Ghana. Understanding the social underpinnings of cancer mortality becomes important, even more with facing this disease and we should focus on remedying socio-economic factors if we want to try an get hold of it. This blog will touch on the current state of cancer mortality in Ghana, socioeconomic etiologies contributing to it and ways we can increase awareness about cancer for better outcomes.

Cancer Mortality Rates in Ghana:

There has been an increase in the cancer mortality rates since 1998 suggesting a rising burden of disease. Some of the most common and deadliest cancers in Ghana included breast, cervical, prostate and liver according to data from The Ghana Health Service. The increase in the cancer death rate can be explained on a number of factors: late stage diagniques, popultion unable to access healthcare and facilities are not available for treating them.

 Socio-Economic Drivers of High Cancer Mortality Rate

1. Limited-level-healthcare Availability

Availability of treatment facilities:

Limited Number of Treatment Facilities in some parts of the country, especially rural communities in Ghana, lack cancer treatment setups. This limitation obligates the patients to travel and visit at a long-range, which often leads delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnostic Services: 

There is a lack of diagnostic tools such as mammograms and biopsy facilities, thus leading to late diagnosis (which results in less treatment effectiveness) for cancer.

2. Economic Barriers

Cost of Treatment: 

The cost of cancer treatment can be daunting. High out-of-pocket costs can bankrupt Ghanaians and the burden of repeated diagnoses, treatments, & follow-up care that falls on their family members is often too harsh.

Insurance Coverage: 

The problem is made worse by having health insurance coverage only up to a certain limit. Moreover, a large number of health insurance schemes do not provide comprehensive cover for cancer treatment due to which patients have pay out-of-pocket.

3. Lack of awareness or education

Public Knowledge : 

As we still see around the world people are hardly known about cancer and causes,prevention or symptoms of early stage. It is due to a lack of awareness about initial symptoms and screening among people.

Cultural beliefs:

There are some cultures that discourage or ultimately prevent people from seeking medical attention. Delaying a cancer diagnosis Even before the ground-level health services, people suffering from mouth ulcers in such places are likely to be initially treated with standard on-the-spot remedies and fear of stigmatization due to (belated) acknowledgment of having oral cancer but this err-on-side-of-treatment strategy could result in significant delays getting more or less an appropriate medical care.

4. Inadequate support systems 

Psychosocial Support: 

There is rarely sufficient psychosocial support for patients and their families. The puzzle of the way to deal with cancer is walking on thin ice without any doubt, emotional and psychological care are much more required than treating a disease.

Community Supports: 

Establishing networks of supports is often necessary for patients to get through their cancer journey — things like transportation help, financial aid and caregiver support.

Ideas on What Could Be Done to Address the Issue

1. Re-enforcing Healthcare Infrastructure

 More Cancer Centers: Establishing additional centers that are better equipped and experienced to deliver treatment ensures a broader segment of the population has improved access. Developing infrastructure in these remote zones can cut travel time for patients and ultimately result in quicker diagnosis and intervention.

Advancediagnostic services: Significant investment should be made in advanced diagnostic modalities and sensitizing the early detection practices amongst healthcare professionals to promote better cancer outcomes.

2. Approaching Financial Pain Points

Affordable Treatment Options: Policies to make cancer treatments affordable like subsidizing medications and treatment costs would alleviate a major economic burden on the patients.

Increasing Insurance Coverage: Alleviating the financial burden for services already included in most health insurance schemes and expanding their availability to include a comprehensive set of cancer-related interventions can increase access to essential care at more reasonable costs.

3. Promote Awareness and Education

Public Awareness Campaigns: Running awareness campaigns across the country can inform people about cancer prevention, symptoms and prompt them to get medical help on time.

Educational Programs: Including cancer education into schools and community health programs can increase awarenessand reduce stigma about the disease.

4. Enhancing Support Systems

Develop support networks : Create cancer patients and their families support groups or network to offer emotional, practical help, knowledge during the treatment phase.

Training healthcare providers: Training healthcare providers to deliver psychosocial support and counsel in the service of a better patient experience overall.

 Conclusion

Dealing with cancer crisis in Ghana necessitates a bulk of strategies which includes improved healthcare infrastructure, lowering of economic obstacles, increasing common general awareness and support systems. If Ghana were to adopt these strategies, there would be a big leap in reducing the cancer deaths and improving the quality of life among those who suffer from this disease. Educating, reminding and spreading the word about cancer can help save more lives in the future of all Ghanaians.