PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 4, No. 2, August 2020
Pages 77-85
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/0202/40(0260)
A Survey of the Impact Lockdown Due to COVID-19 Pandemic on the Volume of Patients Accessing Breast Cancer Care in Nigeria
Olayide S. Agodirin1*, Ganiyu A. Rahman2, Samuel A. Olatoke1, Isiaka Aremu3 , Asimiyu A. Shittu3, Adebowale W. Yusuf3, Saburi Oyewale3, Kayode O. Fasiku4, Julius G. Olaogun5, Amarachukwu Etonyeaku6, Halimat J. Akande7
1Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
2Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
1Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara state. Nigeria
2Department of Surgery, University of Cape Coast and Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast. Ghana
3Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara state. Nigeria
4Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Center Abeokuta, Ogun state. Nigeria
5Department of Surgery, Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state. Nigeria
6Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, Ilesha, Osun state. Nigeria
7Department of Radiology, University of Ilorin and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara state. Nigeria
Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted cancer care, among others and increased the suffering of breast cancer (BC) patient owing to the imposed lockdown. This is study investigated the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the volume of BC patients accessing care in a poor resource setting .
Methods: We surveyed general surgery units (GSU) in North central and Southwestern Nigeria during the first lockdown in April/May 2020. Using an electronically mailed questionnaire, we requested data on patients accessing clinics, chemotherapy and definitive surgery before and during lockdown. The data were analyzed and presented in descriptive statistics using SPSS v 20 and Microsoft Excel software.
Results: Among the 22 GSUs, only 5(23%) prepared for maintaining oncology or breast cancer services during the lockdown. Compared to the volume before the lockdown, 15(60%) GSUs received <30% of the usual volume of new cases, 16 (73%) received <30% of the usual of patients chemotherapy patients and no patient accessed definitive surgery in 15 (68%) GSUs.
Conclusion: There was a marked reduction in the volume of BC patients accessing outpatient clinics, chemotherapy facilities, and definitive surgery during the COVID-19 lockdown
Keywords: Breast cancer, access, COVID-19, Lockdown