Abstract

Mina Kumari Ranabhat*, Basanta Thapa, Babita Devi Dahal and Jaya Prasad Singh

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Delay diagnosis of gynecological cancer results in advanced stage of cancer, less responsive to treatment and decreased rate of survival. The main objective of this study was to identify the delay diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancer among women admitted in cancer hospital, Nepal. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 422 women admitted in B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal were selected by using non-probability sampling. Data was collected by semi structured interview schedule. Then analyzed and interpreted in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age of the women was 51.19 years, 71.6% of them were diagnosed as cervical cancer. Median total diagnostic delay was 100 days with more 54.7% of the women having long total diagnostic delay of >90 days (maximum 672 days). Out of the total diagnostic delay, median personal, health care provider and diagnostic waiting time delay was 60 days, 30 days and 10 days respectively. Majority of the women had experienced short delay of each type except diagnostic delay (maximum 90 days). The median waiting time for chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy was 7 days, 30 days and 30 days respectively. There was statistically significant association between total diagnostic delay and marital status (p=0.043), educational status (p= 0.039), occupation (0.004), afraid of cancer diagnosis (p=0.005) and ignorance for cancer treatment (0.001). Treatment delay was statistically significant with age (p=0.014). Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that more than half of the women have total long diagnostic delay. Almost 4/5th of women have long delay in diagnosis (delay in report waiting). Even after diagnosis, they were waiting maximum 4-6 months for treatment. So, awareness programme is necessary for women for early seeking of medical help. Health personnel from general and cancer hospital should consider it seriously for the timely treatment of those women suffered from gynecological cancer.