ecancermedicalscience

Research

Feasibility of cancer genetic counselling and screening in Cameroon: perceived benefits and barriers

14 Aug 2023
Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko, Kenn Chi Ndi, Lionel Tabola, Vanessa Mouaye, Pelagie Douanla, Nasser Nsangou, Glenda Nkeng, Carmen Vanvolkenburgh, Bonaventure Dzekem, Dezheng Huo, Paul Ndom, Olufunmilayo Olopade

Because there was no genetic testing service in Cameroon, we assessed the acceptance, perceived benefits and barriers and willingness to pay for genetic cancer screening in Cameroon amongst patients with cancers. We carried out a hospital-based, cross-sectional study on adult cancer patients at the Yaoundé General Hospital and the non-Governmental Organisation Solidarity Chemotherapy between February 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. This was a convenience sampling that included all consenting patients. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed by Epi info version 7 and SPSS version 20. Our study included 160 (87.5% females) cancer patients, whose ages ranged from 20 to 82 years, with a mean of 49.9 ± 13.0 years. Only 11.9% had undergone some form of genetic counselling or information sessions, and most found this to be helpful in terms of increased knowledge and prevention strategies (13, 68.4%). Almost all participants (156, 97.5%) stated they will like their relatives to undergo genetic counselling. Of these, 151 (94.4%) expressed their desire for their relatives to discuss their cancer risk with a specialist. Perceived benefits of genetic testing included cancer prevention (108, 67.5%) and motivation of self-examination (81, 50.6%). Prominent possible barriers included the cost (129, 80.6%), unavailability of equipment (49, 30.6%) and anticipated anxiety (40, 25.0%). However, a majority of the participants (156, 97.5%) were willing to test for genetic mutations. One hundred and thirty-five (84.4%) participants were willing to pay for genetic testing, with the majority of them (71.8%) ready to pay between $16.7 and $100. Almost all of the participants expressed their willingness to receive cancer genetic counselling and testing but the cost became the main barrier. This pilot study will serve as a guide to the processes of establishing a cancer risk assessment clinic in Cameroon.

Related Articles

Eduardo Cazap, Benjamin O Anderson, Giuseppe Curigliano, Sandeep Sehdev, Fatima Cardoso, Ana Rita Gonzalez, Emad Shash, Cheng-Har Yip, André Mattar, Yanin Chavarri-Guerra, Miriam Mutebi, Yongmei Yin, João Victor Rocha, Ilaria Lucibello, Namita Srivastava
Mayank Chhabra, Somika Meet, Gandhar Tendulkar, Kunal Oswal, Milan Toraskar, Sai Murali, Bharat Kumar Sarvepalli, Sripriya Rao, Ramachandran Venkataramanan, Yogesh Jain
Vanlaltluangi, Lalengkimi Ralte, John Zothanzama, Lalrammawia Tochhawng, Ruby Zothankimi Ralte, Harvey Vanlalpeka, Nachimuthu Senthil Kumar
Atul Budukh, Sonali Bagal, Deepak Gupta, Sharyu Mhamane, Ravikant Singh, Burhanuddin Qayyumi, Abha Rani Sinha, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Satyajit Pradhan, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Rajendra Badwe, Sudeep Gupta