Factors influencing diagnostic delays of pediatric cancers in Botswana.

Background: A major barrier in improving cancer outcomes in Botswana and other low- and middle-income countries is timely access to care. Understanding time to diagnosis of pediatric cancers in Botswana and evaluating factors contributing to delays was necessary to inform interventions.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with cancer at Princess Marina Hospital from 2008 to 2015 was performed utilizing the Botswana Pediatric Oncology Database.

Establishing a Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program in Botswana.

Purpose: Annually, 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer, and the majority of these children live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Currently, there is incomplete information on pediatric cancer incidence, diagnosis distribution, and treatment outcomes in Africa. Since 2007, a pediatric hematology-oncology program has been operating in Botswana through a partnership between the Botswana government, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children's Hospital.