There is limited research on how a cervical cancer diagnosis financially impacts women and their families in Uganda. This analysis aimed to describe the economic impact of cervical cancer treatment, including how it differs by socio-economic status (SES) in Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional study from September 19, 2022 to January 17, 2023. Women were recruited from the Uganda Cancer Institute and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, and were eligible if they were ≥ of 18 years and being treated for cervical cancer. Participants completed a survey that included questions about their out-of-pocket costs, unpaid labor, and family’s economic situation. A wealth index was constructed to determine their SES. Descriptive statistics were reported. Of the 338 participants, 183 were from the lower SES. Women from the lower SES were significantly more likely to be older, have ≤ primary school education, and have a more advanced stage of cervical cancer. Over 90% of participants in both groups reported paying out-of-pocket for cervical cancer. Only 15 participants stopped treatment because they could not afford it. Women of a lower SES were significantly more likely to report borrowing money (higher SES n = 47, 30.5%; lower SES n = 84, 46.4%; p-value = 0.004) and selling possessions (higher SES n = 47, 30.5%; lower SES n = 90, 49.7%; p-value = 0.006) to pay for care. Both SES groups reported a decrease in the amount of time that they spent caring for their children since their cervical cancer diagnosis (higher SES n = 34, 31.2%; lower SES n = 36, 29.8%). Regardless of their SES, women in Uganda incur out-of-pocket costs related to their cervical cancer treatment. However, there are inequities as women from the lower SES groups were more likely to borrow funds to afford treatment. Alternative payment models and further economic support could help alleviate the financial burden of cervical cancer care in Uganda.

Background: Uganda has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world. Many women are diagnosed and treated with advanced stages of the disease. With only one facility offering comprehensive cervical cancer care in Uganda, many women are required to travel significant distances and spend time away from their homes to receive cervical cancer care. It is important to understand the burden of time away from home while attending treatment because it can inform the expansion of cervical cancer treatment programmes. The aim of this mixed‐methods paper is to describe how the distance to cervical cancer treatment locations impacts women in Uganda.Methods: Women were recruited from 19 September, 2022, to 17 January, 2023, at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) and the cancer clinic at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRF). Women were eligible for the study if they were (i) aged ≥18 years with a histopathologic diagnosis of cervical cancer; (ii) being treated at the UCI or JRRF for cervical cancer; and (iii) able to provide consent to participate in the study in English, Luganda, Lusoga, Luo, or Runyankole. All participants completed a quantitative survey and a selected group was sampled for semi‐structured interviews. Data were analysed using the convergent parallel mixed‐methods approach. Descriptive statistics were reported for the quantitative data and qualitative data using an inductive‐deductive thematic analysis approach.Results: In all, 351 women participated in the quantitative section of the study and 24 in the qualitative. The quantitative and qualitative findings largely aligned and supported one another. Women reported travelling up to 14 h to receive treatment and 20% noted that they would spend three or more nights away from home during their current visit. Major themes of the qualitative include means of transportation, spending the night away from home, and financial factors.Conclusion: Our findings show that travelling to obtain cervical cancer care can be a significant burden for women in Uganda. Approaches should be considered to reduce this burden such as additional satellite cervical cancer clinics or subsidised transportation options.

Cancer is a rising cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Individuals diagnosed with cancer in LMICs often have limited access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. Digital technologies, such as the Internet and mobile phones, could be used to provide support to individuals with cancer in a more accessible way. The goal of this scoping review is to understand how digital technology is being utilized by individuals with cancer for social support in LMICs. Four electronic databases were searched up to June 2024 to identify studies that reported on the use of digital technology for cancer social support in LMICs. Articles were included if they were published in English, included adults diagnosed with any type of cancer, and reported the use of digital technology for social support. Study characteristics, population demographics, and technological interventions reported were extracted. In all, 15 articles from 12 studies were included in the scoping review. Only four countries utilized digital technology for social support: China, Iran, Kenya, and Serbia. The most common cancer type reported was breast. Online health communities, Internet-based resources, mobile applications, and telecommunication were the four digital technologies reported. Overall, the articles demonstrated that the use of digital technology for social support can be beneficial for individuals diagnosed with cancer in LMICs. We found that digital technology may improve quality of life, reduce anxiety and depression, and allow individuals to connect with other individuals diagnosed with cancer. We concluded that there is a limited understanding of how digital technology can be used to support individuals with cancer in LMICs. Future research is needed to explore how digital technology can be utilized by underrepresented regions to offer avenues of support for regionally common cancer types such as cervical.