COVID-19 and access to cancer care in Kenya: patient perspective

COVID-19 disruptions severely impacted access to health services for noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, but few studies have examined patient perspectives of COVID-19-induced barriers to care in low/middle-income countries. Data come from a survey completed online, over the phone or in person of 284 adult people with cancer in Kenya. One-third (36%) of participants had primary or no education and 34% had some or complete secondary education. Half of the participants (49%) were aged 40 to 59, 21% were 18 to 39 and 23% were 60 or older. Two-thirds were female (65%) and most visited a national referral hospital in Nairobi to receive care (84%). Mean travel time to Nairobi from the respondent county of residence was 2.47 hours (+/- 2.73). Most participants reported decreased household income (88%) and were worried about their ability to afford cancer treatment due to COVID-19 (79%). After covariate adjustment, participants who lost access to hospitals due to COVID-19 travel restrictions were 15 times more likely to experience a cancer care delay (OR = 14.90, 95% CI: 7.44-29.85) compared to those with continued access to hospitals. Every additional hour of travel time to Nairobi from their county of residence resulted in a 20% increase in the odds of a cancer care delay (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06-1.36). Transportation needs and uninterrupted access to cancer care and medicines should be accounted for in COVID-19 mitigation strategies. These strategies include permits for cancer patients and caregivers to travel past curfew time or through block posts to receive care during lockdowns, cash assistance and involving patient navigators to improve patient communication.