Is Cost of Treatment the Main Barrier to Uptake of Retinoblastoma Treatment?

O. Fasina; A.O. Adeyemo; M.O. Ugalahi; B.A. Olusanya

Authors

O. Fasina Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital/University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
A.O. Adeyemo Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
M.O. Ugalahi Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital/University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
B.A. Olusanya Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital/University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Abstract

Introduction: Retinoblastoma is the commonest intraocular malignancy in childhood.¹ It is treatable with survival rates of up to 90% in developed countries.² Mortality rate is between 39-75% in some African/Asian countries largely due to late detection and insufficient healthcare measures. ³ Low treatment uptake has been reported in Nigeria, ^4,5,6 and, high cost of treatment has been considered a significant barrier to treatment. ^7,8,9 Other identified barriers to treatment include cost of transportation, inaccessibility to standard health institutions, fear of poor aesthetic outcome, patronage of alternative medicine, and scarcity of skilled human resources.¹⁰

Case Report: We report three patients with retinoblastoma whose parents abandoned their healthcare under a free treatment programme. They represent 50% of patients that presented for treatment during the period.

Views | Downloads: 29 / 20

References

Ellsworth RM. Practical management of retinoblastoma. TransAm Ophthalmol Soc. 1969;67:462–534

Honavar SG, Singh AD, Shields CL, Meadows AT, Demirci H, Cater J, et al. Postenucleation adjuvant therapy in high risk retinoblastoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:923 31.

Desjardins L, Levy C, Lumbroso L, et al. (2000). Current treatment of retinoblastoma. 153 children treated between 1995 and 1998. J Fr Ophtalmol 23:475–481.

Bekibele CO, Ayede AI, Asaolu OO and Brown BJ. Retinoblastoma: The challenges of management in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2009; 31: 552-555

Abdu L and Malami S. Clinicopathological pattern and management of retinoblastoma in Kano, Nigeria. Ann Afr Med 2011;10: 214-219.

Musa KO, Aribaba OT, Oluleye TS, Olowoyeye AO and Akinsete AM. Challenges of retinoblastoma management in a Nigerian tertiary eye care facility. J Clin Sci 2017; 14: 182-187

Kumar A, Moulik NR, Mishra RK and Kumar D. Causes, outcome and prevention of abandonment in retinoblastoma in India. Pediatr Blood

Cancer 2013;60: 771 5.

Xunda Ji et al; Direct cost of retinoblastoma treatment during the first year of comprehensive therapy in China. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2012; 49(6): 353-358

Aziz HA et al; Retinoblastoma treatment burden and economic cost: impart of age at diagnosis and selection of primary therapy. Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, NZ). 2012;6: 1601

Chawla B, Kumar K and Singh AD. Influence of socioeconomic and cultural factors on retinoblastoma management. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2017; 4: 187-190.