Pediatric oncology nursing research in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

Cancer and other non-communicable diseases are a growing public health issue now that infectious disease control (e.g., HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis) has made great strides across low- and middle-income countries (L&MIC). The large majority (85%) of children and adolescents with cancer reside in L&MIC where children represent up to 50% of a country’s population, and resources are severely limited for the comprehensive cancer care these patients require. Nursing care of these patients and families must be based on research performed in country to account for challenges in access to care and limited resources and opportunities for nursing specialization. Examples of these challenges include cancer stigma, poverty, traditional medicine practices, cultural norms and decision-making hierarchies, limited education opportunities, lack of universal healthcare, and poor transportation infrastructure to access tertiary care. This chapter summarizes the 137 articles in five languages from 2008 to 2018 that communicate nursing research findings pertaining to pediatric oncology issues from L&MIC across all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Despite little or no funding, nurses in academic and clinical settings are actively exploring care priorities in their settings, most often (but not limited to) addressing parent coping, nurse and nursing care issues including symptom management (pain and fatigue, especially), and children’s quality of life. The nursing research evidence presented here will begin to inform personalized and precision health in L&MIC to ensure that care is culturally acceptable and considers the environment, nursing practice, nursing science, family, lifestyle behaviors, and response to disease and treatment of this large patient population.