Cancer Demographics and Time-to-Care in Belize

Abstract Background Belize is a middle-income Caribbean country with poorly described cancer epidemiology and no comprehensive cancer care capacity. In 2018, GO, Inc., a US-based NGO, partnered with the Ministry of Health and the national hospital in Belize City to create the first public oncology c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The oncologist (Dayton, Ohio) Ohio), 2023-06, Vol.28 (6), p.e350-e358
Main Authors: Wong, Wayne, Dickerson, James C, Valtis, Yannis K, Habet, Marta, Bernard, Margaret, Kelly, Lorna, Lattin, John, Garrity, Philip, Sood, Rupali, Ohanian, Alec, Chege, Maryanne W, Bhatt, Ami S, Huang, Franklin W, Yacab, Ramon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer
Care and treatment
Cervical cancer
Chemotherapy
Epidemiology
Global Health and Cancer
Medically uninsured persons
Non-governmental organizations
Public health
Statistics
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Summary:Abstract Background Belize is a middle-income Caribbean country with poorly described cancer epidemiology and no comprehensive cancer care capacity. In 2018, GO, Inc., a US-based NGO, partnered with the Ministry of Health and the national hospital in Belize City to create the first public oncology clinic in the country. Here, we report demographics from the clinic and describe time intervals to care milestones to allow for public health targeting of gaps. Patients and Methods Using paper charts and a mobile health platform, we performed a retrospective chart review at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) clinic from 2018 to 2022. Results During this time period, 465 patients with cancer presented to the clinic. Breast cancer (28%) and cervical cancer (12%) were most common. Most patients (68%) presented with stage 3 or 4 disease and were uninsured (78%) and unemployed (79%). Only 21% of patients ever started curative intent treatment. Median time from patient-reported symptoms to a biopsy or treatment was 130 and 189 days. For the most common cancer, breast, similar times were seen at 140 and 178 days. Time intervals at the clinic:
ISSN:1083-7159
1549-490X
DOI:10.1093/oncolo/oyad030