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Specialty (if any): Gynecological Cancer, Health disparities research, Health systems barrier

Keywords: Uterine cancer, barriers to diagnosis, access to treatment, Nigeria

Background: Uterine cancer is the third most common gynecological malignancy in Nigeria, following cervical and ovarian cancers, and its incidence is projected to double over the next two decades. In 2022 alone, Nigeria recorded 1,627 new cases and 543 related deaths. Despite this growing burden, research on uterine cancer in Nigeria remains sparse, and women in Africa tend to present at a younger age and at more advanced stages of disease. Prior studies on gynecological cancers in Nigeria have identified barriers such as low disease awareness, financial constraints, religious and cultural beliefs, and fear of stigmatization as key obstacles to timely diagnosis and treatment. With only 25% of women in Lagos demonstrating good knowledge of uterine cancer, and the majority believing they are not at risk, there is an urgent need for context-specific data to inform effective cancer control planning in the region.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of women diagnosed with uterine cancer at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), with a focus on (1) barriers encountered prior to and during diagnosis, (2) challenges in accessing treatment, and (3) the role of socio-economic factors in delayed care-seeking.

Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted at the oncology and gynecology clinic, ward, and MEDSERVE-LUTH Cancer Centre at LUTH in Lagos, Nigeria. Women with a histological diagnosis of uterine cancer receiving care at LUTH were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique, yielding a final sample size of 54 consenting participants. Data were collected via structured survey questionnaires and optional one-on-one interviews over a four-month period between January 2026 and April 2026. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, correlational and regression analyses, while qualitative data will undergo thematic and narrative analysis.

Results: Data collection has been completed. Analysis is ongoing. It was hypothesized that women with uterine cancer experience delays in seeking medical care due to a combination of personal interpretations of symptoms, socioeconomic barriers, and inadequate communication from healthcare providers, and that these delays negatively impact early diagnosis and treatment outcomes across different socioeconomic groups.

Conclusions: This study is expected to reveal significant associations between socioeconomic factors and delays in uterine cancer diagnosis and treatment access among women in Nigeria. By centering the voices and lived experiences of patients and their caregivers, the qualitative aspect of this study is expected to uncover the personal, cultural, and systemic factors that shape how women perceive and respond to early symptoms of uterine cancer, navigate the healthcare system following a uterine cancer diagnosis, and cope with the emotional and practical challenges unique to living with uterine cancer in Nigeria. Together, these findings will contribute critical context-specific evidence to inform targeted uterine cancer awareness campaigns, patient-centered health policies, and stronger uterine cancer control programs in Nigeria.