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.

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