@article{fdi:010093614,
  title = {{B}arriers and opportunities related to access to oncology care in {B}enin : a qualitative study on breast cancer},
  author = {{S}chantz, {C}l{\'e}mence and {G}nangnon, {F}. {H}. {R}. and {A}boubakar, {M}. and {A}gbodande, {A}. {K}. and {P}uig, {P}. and {D}enakpo, {J}. {L}. and {B}agnan, {A}. {T}. and {B}ottin, {M}. and {A}gbodjavou, {K}. {M}. and {S}acca, {H}. {R}. and {T}eixeira, {L}. and {R}idde, {V}al{\'e}ry and {SENOVIE} {G}roup,},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {B}reast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, including in {A}frica. {O}ncology is a relatively new discipline in many {W}est {A}frican countries, particularly in {B}enin. {T}here is currently a lack of data concerning the current state of cancer care infrastructure and oncology practices within these countries. {T}he aim of the article is to describe the barriers and opportunities related to access to oncology care in {B}enin. {M}ethods {W}e employed a qualitative research design. {F}ifty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers treating cancer (n=26), women with breast cancer (n=23), and representatives of associations (n=2). {A}dditionally, 18 days of participant observation were conducted in a chemotherapy and palliative care departments in {C}otonou, {B}enin. {T}he data was analysed using {L}evesque et al.'s theoretical framework on access to healthcare. {R}esults {W}omen encounter obstacles such as delayed diagnosis and unequal access to information, as well as socio-cultural beliefs that favour traditional medicine and discourage surgical interventions like mastectomy. {T}he treatment pathway is often chaotic due to insufficient specialised caregivers and limited infrastructure, with services centralised in {C}otonou forcing patients to travel long distances around the country. {T}he current lack of radiotherapy requires patients in need to travel abroad for treatment. {H}igh costs of biomedical tests and treatments often lead to care abandonment, worsening health inequalities. {H}owever, positive changes should be highlighted, such as the establishment of the {I}nter-{U}niversity {D}iploma in {G}ynaecological and {B}reast {O}ncology in 2013, the expansion of palliative care services in the country, and the planned opening of the {C}alavi {I}nternational {H}ospital {C}entre in 2025. {C}hallenges include continuing to train health professionals in oncology, further developing health financing and supporting civil society to raise awareness of breast cancer. {C}onclusions {B}enin is facing several challenges in relation to the provision of timely and high-quality care for women with breast cancer. {H}owever, there is a growing commitment to enhancing breast cancer care in {B}enin.},
  keywords = {{C}ancer ; {B}enin ; {A}ccess to care ; {B}arriers ; {O}pportunities ; {A}frica ; {B}reast ; {BENIN} ; {COTONOU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{BMC} {C}ancer},
  volume = {25},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {947 [19 p.]},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1186/s12885-025-14325-3},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010093614},
}