Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database

PURPOSEThis study estimated the childhood cancer incidence in Zimbabwe between January 2015 and December 2021.PATIENTS AND METHODSData collected from Zimbabwe's KidzCan database and patient files included demographic data (sex, date of birth, age at diagnosis, and geographic home region), cance...

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Main Authors: Laura P.V. Sibanda, Anel Van Zyl, Tonya M. Esterhuizen, Daniel Mackenzie, Loyce Hlatywayo, Patience Kuona, Mariana Kruger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025-06-01
Series:JCO Global Oncology
Online Access:https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-24-00541
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author Laura P.V. Sibanda
Anel Van Zyl
Tonya M. Esterhuizen
Daniel Mackenzie
Loyce Hlatywayo
Patience Kuona
Mariana Kruger
author_facet Laura P.V. Sibanda
Anel Van Zyl
Tonya M. Esterhuizen
Daniel Mackenzie
Loyce Hlatywayo
Patience Kuona
Mariana Kruger
author_sort Laura P.V. Sibanda
collection DOAJ
description PURPOSEThis study estimated the childhood cancer incidence in Zimbabwe between January 2015 and December 2021.PATIENTS AND METHODSData collected from Zimbabwe's KidzCan database and patient files included demographic data (sex, date of birth, age at diagnosis, and geographic home region), cancer diagnosis, and orphanhood. The age-specific incidence rate per million population at risk for children age 0-14 and 0-19 years was calculated using the United Nations Statistics Division population estimates for Zimbabwe in 2021, with estimates for 0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and 15-19 years age groups.RESULTSA total of 1,090 cases were identified, of which 1,024 were analyzed; 66 were excluded because of missing data. The median age was 4 years (range, 0-17 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. More than half (54.2%; 555) were between age 0 and 4 years. Most patients had solid tumors (70.4%). The study's age-specific rates were 161.76/million population at risk for the 0-14 years age group compared with the reported International Incidence of Childhood Cancer-3 data for Zimbabwe (1993-2013) of 126.3/million, whereas it was 132.75/million population at risk for the 0-19 years age group. The most common cancers were nephroblastoma (22.1%), acute leukemia (21%), and retinoblastoma (15%).CONCLUSIONThis study provides crucial incidence data regarding childhood cancer in Zimbabwe, which may assist in policy planning to achieve the 2030 WHO goal of a 60% cure rate. These results indicate the crucial role of civil society organizations such as KidzCan in assisting the Zimbabwe government in managing childhood cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-e38f491e94a54f56b2933fe7d30890a02025-08-20T03:25:23ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412025-06-011110.1200/GO-24-00541Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's DatabaseLaura P.V. Sibanda0Anel Van Zyl1Tonya M. Esterhuizen2Daniel Mackenzie3Loyce Hlatywayo4Patience Kuona5Mariana Kruger6Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South AfricaKidzCan Zimbabwe, Rainbow Children's Village, Harare, ZimbabweKidzCan Zimbabwe, Rainbow Children's Village, Harare, ZimbabwePaediatric Oncology Department, Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, ZimbabweDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South AfricaPURPOSEThis study estimated the childhood cancer incidence in Zimbabwe between January 2015 and December 2021.PATIENTS AND METHODSData collected from Zimbabwe's KidzCan database and patient files included demographic data (sex, date of birth, age at diagnosis, and geographic home region), cancer diagnosis, and orphanhood. The age-specific incidence rate per million population at risk for children age 0-14 and 0-19 years was calculated using the United Nations Statistics Division population estimates for Zimbabwe in 2021, with estimates for 0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and 15-19 years age groups.RESULTSA total of 1,090 cases were identified, of which 1,024 were analyzed; 66 were excluded because of missing data. The median age was 4 years (range, 0-17 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. More than half (54.2%; 555) were between age 0 and 4 years. Most patients had solid tumors (70.4%). The study's age-specific rates were 161.76/million population at risk for the 0-14 years age group compared with the reported International Incidence of Childhood Cancer-3 data for Zimbabwe (1993-2013) of 126.3/million, whereas it was 132.75/million population at risk for the 0-19 years age group. The most common cancers were nephroblastoma (22.1%), acute leukemia (21%), and retinoblastoma (15%).CONCLUSIONThis study provides crucial incidence data regarding childhood cancer in Zimbabwe, which may assist in policy planning to achieve the 2030 WHO goal of a 60% cure rate. These results indicate the crucial role of civil society organizations such as KidzCan in assisting the Zimbabwe government in managing childhood cancer.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-24-00541
spellingShingle Laura P.V. Sibanda
Anel Van Zyl
Tonya M. Esterhuizen
Daniel Mackenzie
Loyce Hlatywayo
Patience Kuona
Mariana Kruger
Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database
JCO Global Oncology
title Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database
title_full Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database
title_fullStr Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database
title_full_unstemmed Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database
title_short Childhood Cancer in Zimbabwe: A Review of KidzCan's Database
title_sort childhood cancer in zimbabwe a review of kidzcan s database
url https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-24-00541
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