Spatial and socio-demographic disparities of cancer morbidity in Nigeria: patterns and factors
An analysis of cancer pattern among states in Nigeria was undertaken with a view to identify spatial variations and the associated factors which could aid in the allocation of health resources and intervention planning. Retrospective cancer data from 1987 to 1996 were retrieved from five national...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM,Bangi
2014
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/6940/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/6940/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/6940/1/3ok.geografia-jan_2014-oguntoke_-edam1.pdf |
| Summary: | An analysis of cancer pattern among states in Nigeria was undertaken with a view to identify spatial variations
and the associated factors which could aid in the allocation of health resources and intervention planning.
Retrospective cancer data from 1987 to 1996 were retrieved from five national cancer registries in Nigeria
which included the cancer patients’ age, gender, cancer site and residential area. In addition, socio-demographic,
environmental and pathogenic data used as explanatory variables were collected from secondary sources.
Results showed that all cancer sites according to WHO classification were reported in Nigeria. The five leading
cancer groups within the study period were breast, cervical, leukaemia/lymphoma, gastro-intestine and bone
cancer (19–8%). At each of the cancer registries (zones), cancer occurrence varied in composition and
magnitude. Cancer incidence varied significantly (P <0.05) among states; 70–125 in Oyo and Osun, and 15–40
in Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Kwara, Ogun, Anambra, Imo and Abia state. There was positive correlation between
cancer pattern and indices of urbanization, industrialisation and biomass energy utilisation in each state (R =0.79–0.56) explaining between 31% to 63% (R2 =0.31–0.63) of the observed variation in specific cancer
pattern. Further, inequality in the development level of the states influenced the cancer pattern. Socio-medical
resources allocation for cancer control should thus take cognizance of the regional heterogeneous cancer profile
in the country for optimum results. |
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