Attributes of childhood cancer among the patients attending specialized hospitals in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Childhood cancer is an emerging health problem worldwide. It is the second common cause of child death. Epidemiological and clinical attributes of childhood cancer are not properly documented in Bangladesh. This study was designed to reveal the attributes of childhood cancer among the patients attended specialized hospitals in Dhaka city. Objective: To determine the epidemiological and clinical attributes of childhood cancer. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 99 under 18 years old children suffering from cancer, who were included considering specific selection criteria. Data were collected by face to face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and checklist. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software. Results: Of all the children, majority (40.4%) was in age group of 6-10 years and their mean (±SD) age was 7.48 (±3.70) years. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1.6 and majority (48.5%) was in middle income group. Major part (42.4%) of the children was from sub-urban followed by 30.3% rural and 27.2% from urban communities. Major types of childhood cancer comprised acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (37.4%), retinoblastoma (14.1%), neuroblastoma (10.1%), and Wilm’stumour (10.1%). Less common cancers included non-Hodgekin’s lymphoma (7.1%), Hodgekin’s lymphoma (5.1%), osteosercoma (5.1%), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (4.0%), germ cell tumour (3.0%), acute myeloid leukaemia (3.0%) and Ewing’s tumour (1.0%). Majority (35.1%) of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients were from urban while most (85.7%) of retinoblastoma patients from sub-urban, 50.0% of neuroblastoma cases from rural, and 40.0% of Wilm’s tumour from sub-urban communities, this geographical variation of childhood cancer was statistically significant [χ2(33)=56.46, p=0.01]. In poor and middle income group, most of the children (91.8%) were detected in stage II while among the higher income group, most (88.9%) of the cancer were detected in stage-I and this variation was statistically significant [χ2(9)=16.77, p=0.05]. Family history was strongly related with childhood cancer [χ2(20)=32.81, p=0.04]. Conclusion: Cancer was more prevalent among male children with poor socio-economic condition residing in sub-urban communities. The study recommends specific measures to detect childhood cancer and related risk factors at early stage to prevention and control.