Mutebi Miriam, Aryeetey Naa Adorkor, Alemu Haimanot Kasahun, Carson Laura, Mohamed Zainab, Doleeb Zainab, Lasebikan Nwamaka, Dharsee Nazima Jaffer, Msadabwe Susan, Ramogola-Masire Doreen, Mwanzi Sitna, Warfa Khadija, Nwachukwu Emmanuella, Woldetsadik Edom Seife, Spencer Hirondina Vaz Borges, Chraiet Nesrine, Jalink Matthew, Jagsi Reshma, Lombe Dorothy Chilambe, Vanderpuye Verna, Hammad Nazik
Surgery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi County, Nairobi, Kenya.
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
BMJ Oncol. 2024 Mar 12;3(1):e000125. doi: 10.1136/bmjonc-2023-000125. eCollection 2024.
Recent studies have identified challenges facing women oncologists in Western contexts. However, similar studies in Africa have yet to be conducted. This study sought to determine the most common and substantial challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa and identify potential solutions.
A panel of 29 women oncologists from 20 African countries was recruited through professional and personal networks. A Delphi consensus process identified challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa, and potential solutions. Following this, focus group discussions were held to discuss the results. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the most common challenges indicated by participants and thematic analysis was conducted on focus group transcripts.
African women oncologists experienced challenges at individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels. The top-ranked challenge identified in the Delphi study was 'pressure to maintain a work-family balance and meet social obligations'. Some of the challenges identified were similar to those in studies on women oncologists outside of Africa while others were unique to this African demographic. Solutions to improve the experience of women oncologists were identified and discussed, including greater work flexibility and mentorship opportunities.
Women oncologists in Africa experience many of the challenges that have been previously identified by studies in other regions. These challenges and potential solutions exist at all levels of the social-ecological framework. Women oncologists must be empowered in number and leadership, and gender-sensitive curricula and competencies must be implemented. A systems-level dialogue could bring light to these challenges and foster tangible action and policy-level changes.
近期研究已明确西方背景下女性肿瘤学家所面临的挑战。然而，非洲尚未开展类似研究。本研究旨在确定非洲女性肿瘤学家面临的最常见且最重大的挑战，并找出潜在解决方案。
通过专业和个人网络招募了来自20个非洲国家的29名女性肿瘤学家组成的小组。采用德尔菲共识法确定非洲女性肿瘤学家面临的挑战以及潜在解决方案。在此之后，举行焦点小组讨论以探讨结果。使用描述性统计来确定参与者指出的最常见挑战，并对焦点小组记录进行主题分析。
非洲女性肿瘤学家在个人、人际、机构和社会层面都面临挑战。德尔菲研究中确定的排名首位的挑战是“维持工作与家庭平衡以及履行社会义务的压力”。所确定的一些挑战与非洲以外地区关于女性肿瘤学家的研究中的挑战相似，而其他一些则是这一非洲人群所特有的。确定并讨论了改善女性肿瘤学家体验的解决方案，包括更大的工作灵活性和指导机会。
非洲女性肿瘤学家面临着其他地区研究先前已确定的许多挑战。这些挑战及潜在解决方案存在于社会生态框架的各个层面。必须在数量和领导力方面增强女性肿瘤学家的力量，并且必须实施对性别敏感的课程和能力要求。系统性对话可以揭示这些挑战，并促成切实的行动和政策层面的变革。
