Navigating the Cost of Care: How Kenyan Women Manage the Financial Burden of Cervical Cancer
Ramzi Salloum, Rahma Mkuu, Daniela Rivero-Mendoza, Yashaswini Meduri, Francis Makokha, Charity Hungu, Dea'vion Godfrey, Stephanie Staras, Sharon Mweni, Diana Njuguna, Elizabeth ShenkmanPURPOSE
Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women in Kenya, with over 60% of cases expected to result in mortality, making it a leading cause of cancer death among women in Kenya. The financial cost of treatment is the most commonly cited barrier to accessing treatment, frequently associated with treatment delay. This study aims to identify how women undergoing cervical cancer treatment manage costs related to cancer treatment. This study illuminates how Kenyan women navigate the complex financial challenges related to cancer treatment. By centering the lived experiences of women in Machakos, Kenya, this study demonstrates how locally grounded research can inform scalable global health interventions.
METHODS
This qualitative study explored the experiences of 29 Kenyan women diagnosed with cervical cancer undergoing treatment at the Machakos Cancer Care and Research Centre in Kenya. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in Kiswahili and English to capture participants' experiences navigating cervical cancer treatment. For this research, we focus on factors associated with managing the financial costs of treatment. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
The average age of participants was 56 years, with the majority having at least a primary education (n = 27), married (n = 21), not currently working (n = 17), and receiving support from the Kenya National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF; N = 23). Two themes related to managing costs of treatment emerged: (1) Women received financial support from their family members and social networks, and (2) the NHIF was a significant source of financial support, as it reduced the out-of-pocket costs of treatment. Despite participants receiving financial support from their family, community, and NHIF, many still faced financial hardship that forced them to draw from their personal savings or assets to fund their treatment. Participants emphasized the need for subsidized treatment to alleviate financial burdens.
CONCLUSION
The findings underscore an urgent need for targeted interventions to address the financial obstacles encountered by cervical cancer survivors. Expanding financial support mechanisms, such as insurance coverage, could enhance access to treatment and ultimately lower cervical cancer mortality rates.