Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors and Pathways to Pediatric Oncology Care Among Families of Children with Cancer in a Public Tertiary Hospital in Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Observational Study
6 affiliations
- 1Management of Health Systems and Services, School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
- 2Department of Management of Health Policies and Service, School of Public Health, University of Kananga, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- 3Department of Epidemiology, Disease Prevention and Control, School of Public Health, University of Kananga, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- 4Technical Sector of Public Health, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Uvira, Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo
- 5Public Health, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- 6Health Promotion and Communication Unit, School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to describe the healthcare-seeking behaviours of families of children with cancer in southeastern DRC by: (i) identifying initial care-seeking options; (ii) characterising the sequence and patterns of pathways leading to paediatric oncology; and (iii) quantifying the interval from symptom onset to the first paediatric oncology consultation and describing its variation by cancer type.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed medical records of children with cancer managed at the Lubumbashi University Clinics, DRC, between January 2020 and June 2025. The analysis of referral times and treatment pathways was conducted in accordance with the Aarhus conceptual framework. Descriptive analyses and explorations of variation were performed using SPSS Statistics and Epi Info 7.2.6.0 software, in addition to R 4.5.3.
Results: A total of 44 children with cancer were included; 54.5% were female, and the median age was 156 months (IQR: 108–156). Retinoblastoma was the most frequent cancer (38.6%), followed by lymphomas (13.6%) and carcinomas (11.4%). The median interval from symptom onset to the first paediatric oncology consultation was 5.5 months (IQR: 2–12), reaching 9 months (IQR: 5–12) among children with retinoblastoma. Initial care-seeking options comprised primary care (54.5%), paediatric oncology (18.2%), tertiary care (15.9%), traditional medicine (6.8%), and secondary care (4.5%). The care pathways highlighted a complex navigation within the formal sector-oriented health system, characterized by multiple transitions between levels of care. Paediatric oncology was reached at the first, second, third, and fourth recorded care-seeking contacts by 8, 15, 16, and 5 children, respectively.
Conclusion: Primary care was the most common first point of contact, and earlier access to paediatric oncology is a priority, particularly for children with retinoblastoma. The causes of the observed intervals were not established. Prospective mixed-methods studies should identify where time accumulates and explore the experiences of families and healthcare providers.
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BibTeX
@article{diyoka2026healthcareseeking,
title = {{Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors and Pathways to Pediatric Oncology Care Among Families of Children with Cancer in a Public Tertiary Hospital in Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Observational Study}},
author = {Chadrack Kabeya Diyoka and Pascal Pambi Mukanga and Jacques Tshibuabua Mutamba and Dominique Ilunga Masumbuku and Diane Muantama Balimo and Hendrick Mbutshu Lukuke},
journal = {Cancer Management and Research},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.2147/cmar.s645409},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/cmar.s645409},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors and Pathways to Pediatric Oncology Care Among Families of Children with Cancer in a Public Tertiary Hospital in Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Observational Study
AU - Chadrack Kabeya Diyoka
AU - Pascal Pambi Mukanga
AU - Jacques Tshibuabua Mutamba
AU - Dominique Ilunga Masumbuku
AU - Diane Muantama Balimo
AU - Hendrick Mbutshu Lukuke
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Cancer Management and Research
DO - 10.2147/cmar.s645409
UR - https://doi.org/10.2147/cmar.s645409
AB - Background: The objective of this study was to describe the healthcare-seeking behaviours of families of children with cancer in southeastern DRC by: (i) identifying initial care-seeking options; (ii) characterising the sequence and patterns of pathways leading to paediatric oncology; and (iii) quantifying the interval from symptom onset to the first paediatric oncology consultation and describing its variation by cancer type. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed medical records of children with cancer managed at the Lubumbashi University Clinics, DRC, between January 2020 and June 2025. The analysis of referral times and treatment pathways was conducted in accordance with the Aarhus conceptual framework. Descriptive analyses and explorations of variation were performed using SPSS Statistics and Epi Info 7.2.6.0 software, in addition to R 4.5.3. Results: A total of 44 children with cancer were included; 54.5% were female, and the median age was 156 months (IQR: 108–156). Retinoblastoma was the most frequent cancer (38.6%), followed by lymphomas (13.6%) and carcinomas (11.4%). The median interval from symptom onset to the first paediatric oncology consultation was 5.5 months (IQR: 2–12), reaching 9 months (IQR: 5–12) among children with retinoblastoma. Initial care-seeking options comprised primary care (54.5%), paediatric oncology (18.2%), tertiary care (15.9%), traditional medicine (6.8%), and secondary care (4.5%). The care pathways highlighted a complex navigation within the formal sector-oriented health system, characterized by multiple transitions between levels of care. Paediatric oncology was reached at the first, second, third, and fourth recorded care-seeking contacts by 8, 15, 16, and 5 children, respectively. Conclusion: Primary care was the most common first point of contact, and earlier access to paediatric oncology is a priority, particularly for children with retinoblastoma. The causes of the observed intervals were not established. Prospective mixed-methods studies should identify where time accumulates and explore the experiences of families and healthcare providers.
SN - 1179-1322
ER -