School of Nursing and Midwifery, Wisconsin International University College-Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
BMC Womens Health. 2024 Mar 14;24(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-02931-5.
When children are diagnosed of cancer, parents face varied financial issues. Among some of the identifiable factors that cause financial challenges among breastfeeding mothers include the high cost of childhood cancer care. The high cost of childhood cancer care could impede the sustainability of access to prompt care. There is paucity of literature on the financial burdens faced by breastfeeding mothers with children diagnosed with cancer in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to explore the financial burden faced by mothers with breastfeeding children diagnosed with cancer.
The study employed qualitative exploratory descriptive design. One-on-one interviews were conducted among 13 mothers with breastfeeding children diagnosed of cancer. Permission was sought for data to be recorded, transcribed concurrently and inductive content analysis done.
Three main themes emerged after data analysis: High cost (sub-themes; expensive medications, laboratory investigation fees, and cost of mothers' feeding), Public support (sub-themes; appeal for funds, national health insurance scheme) and Self-financing (loans, personal savings). Most of the breastfeeding mothers narrated that high cost of childhood cancer care generated financial distress to them. They shared that the cost involved in purchasing their children's cancer medications, paying for laboratory investigations and feeding themselves to produce adequate breastmilk to feed their children were challenging. Some of the mothers self-financed the cost of their children's cancer care through loans and personal savings.
Government and other stakeholders should allocate annual budget and funds towards childhood cancer care to lessen the financial burden breastfeeding mothers caring for children with cancer experience.
当儿童被诊断出癌症时，父母会面临各种财务问题。在导致母乳喂养母亲面临财务挑战的可识别因素中，包括儿童癌症治疗费用高昂。儿童癌症治疗费用高昂可能会阻碍及时获得治疗的可持续性。在加纳，针对患有癌症的母乳喂养儿童的母亲所面临的经济负担，相关文献匮乏。因此，本研究旨在探讨被诊断患有癌症的母乳喂养母亲所面临的经济负担。
本研究采用定性探索性描述设计。对 13 位患有癌症的母乳喂养儿童的母亲进行了一对一的访谈。征得同意对数据进行记录、同时进行转录，并进行归纳内容分析。
数据分析后出现了三个主要主题：高成本（子主题：昂贵的药物、实验室检查费用和母亲喂养费用）、公共支持（子主题：筹款、国家健康保险计划）和自筹资金（贷款、个人储蓄）。大多数母乳喂养母亲表示，儿童癌症治疗费用高昂给她们带来了经济压力。她们分享说，购买孩子癌症药物、支付实验室检查费用以及为自己提供足够的母乳来喂养孩子的费用都很有挑战性。一些母亲通过贷款和个人储蓄来自筹孩子癌症治疗的费用。
政府和其他利益相关者应拨出年度预算和资金用于儿童癌症治疗，以减轻照顾癌症儿童的母乳喂养母亲所面临的经济负担。
