Molla Yalew Melkamu, Shad Aziza, Wali Rabia, Yimer Mulugeta Ayalew
Unit of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar City, Ethiopia.
Department of Pediatrics, The Herman Walter Samuelson Childrens Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore, United States.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 27;15(1):10534. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-90493-3.
There were no pediatric oncology centers in Northwest Ethiopia before 2019. This retrospective cross-sectional study aims to describe the magnitude and associated factors of childhood cancer treatment abandonment at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, the first pediatric oncology unit in Northwest Ethiopia. Survival rates of childhood cancer in low and middle-income countries are as low as 30%. Treatment abandonment is the main reason for low childhood cancer survival rates. Multivariate complementary log-log regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with childhood cancer treatment abandonment. The statistical association between dependent and. independent variables were declared at a p-value of ≤ 0.05. The magnitude of treatment abandonment was 39.2%. The disbelief cancer is incurable (AOR = 2.33), child looked cure (AOR = 4.22), the occurrence of treatment-related toxicities (AOR) = 1.77 ), any of cancer relapse or cancer progression or stable diseases (AOR) = 2.74), being in active treatment phase (AOR) = 15.37), having health insurance (AOR = 0.46), and primary caregivers have a job (AOR = 0.34 ) were significantly associated with childhood treatment abandonment. The study result showed that the magnitude of childhood cancer treatment abandonment was a significant problem at the UOGCSH. Having health insurance and employed primary caregivers were associated with reduced treatment abandonment.
2019年之前，埃塞俄比亚西北部没有儿科肿瘤中心。这项回顾性横断面研究旨在描述贡德尔大学综合专科医院儿童癌症治疗放弃的程度及相关因素，该医院是埃塞俄比亚西北部首个儿科肿瘤科室。低收入和中等收入国家儿童癌症的生存率低至30%。治疗放弃是儿童癌症生存率低的主要原因。采用多变量互补对数-对数回归分析来确定与儿童癌症治疗放弃相关的因素。当p值≤0.05时，宣布因变量和自变量之间存在统计学关联。治疗放弃的程度为39.2%。认为癌症无法治愈（比值比=2.33）、患儿看似已治愈（比值比=4.22）、出现与治疗相关的毒性反应（比值比=1.77）、出现任何癌症复发或癌症进展或病情稳定（比值比=2.74）、处于积极治疗阶段（比值比=15.37）、拥有医疗保险（比值比=0.46）以及主要照料者有工作（比值比=0.34）均与儿童治疗放弃显著相关。研究结果表明，在贡德尔大学综合专科医院，儿童癌症治疗放弃的程度是一个严重问题。拥有医疗保险和有工作的主要照料者与降低治疗放弃率相关。
