BEYOND TREATMENT : THE VITAL ROLE OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN COMPREHENSIVE CANCER MANAGEMENT IN KILIMANJARO NORTHERN TANZANIA, A SYSTEMATIC NARRATIVE REVIEW
1
School of Rehabilitation Medicine, KCMC University, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, United Republic of
2
Department of Rehabilitation Services, Songea Regional Referral Hospital, Songea MC, Tanzania, United Republic of
3
School of Medicine, KCMC University, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, United Republic of
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2765
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
WHO defines Palliative care as improving quality of life for those with life-threatening illnesses, is crucial for cancer patients. Globally, access is limited, especially in LMICs. Tanzania faces a rising cancer burden with inadequate, particularly rural, palliative care. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI) in Northern Tanzania offer key insights into the regional landscape. The review explores these dynamics.
OBJECTIVE:
The reviews aims to systematically narrate the state of palliative care in Kilimanjaro cancer management over the past decade. The systematic narrative review, guided by PRISMA, spanned literature from January 2014 to June 2024. A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, AJOL, CINAHL using keywords like "Palliative care," "Cancer," Inclusion criteria was Tanzanian cancer palliative care, English, peer-reviewed articles, and grey literature. Data extraction covered study settings, populations, interventions, and outcomes. Thematic analysis, aided by NVivo 12, identified themes and gaps in service, policy, and implementation. From 162 identified articles, 27 met the review's criteria. Key findings show palliative care services are predominantly urban, with KCMC leading inpatient and outpatient programs, while rural areas lack resources and trained staff. Integration into national cancer protocols is limited, though KCMC and KCRI are pioneering pilot programs. Shortage of trained palliative care providers persists, despite KCMC's training initiatives. Access to essential pain medications, particularly opioids, is inadequate, with only 35% of studies reporting consistent morphine access. Finally, while policy recognizes palliative care, implementation is fragmented, with advocacy efforts by academic centers influencing discourse. The review highlights significant palliative care progress in Tanzanian cancer management, especially via KCMC and KCRI. However, challenges like limited rural coverage, inadequate training, and poor medication access persist. Findings underscore need for policy implementation, curriculum integration, and dedicated funding, particularly for rural services. Future research focus on outcome evaluations and scalable community interventions.
WHO defines Palliative care as improving quality of life for those with life-threatening illnesses, is crucial for cancer patients. Globally, access is limited, especially in LMICs. Tanzania faces a rising cancer burden with inadequate, particularly rural, palliative care. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) and Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI) in Northern Tanzania offer key insights into the regional landscape. The review explores these dynamics.
OBJECTIVE:
The reviews aims to systematically narrate the state of palliative care in Kilimanjaro cancer management over the past decade. The systematic narrative review, guided by PRISMA, spanned literature from January 2014 to June 2024. A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, AJOL, CINAHL using keywords like "Palliative care," "Cancer," Inclusion criteria was Tanzanian cancer palliative care, English, peer-reviewed articles, and grey literature. Data extraction covered study settings, populations, interventions, and outcomes. Thematic analysis, aided by NVivo 12, identified themes and gaps in service, policy, and implementation. From 162 identified articles, 27 met the review's criteria. Key findings show palliative care services are predominantly urban, with KCMC leading inpatient and outpatient programs, while rural areas lack resources and trained staff. Integration into national cancer protocols is limited, though KCMC and KCRI are pioneering pilot programs. Shortage of trained palliative care providers persists, despite KCMC's training initiatives. Access to essential pain medications, particularly opioids, is inadequate, with only 35% of studies reporting consistent morphine access. Finally, while policy recognizes palliative care, implementation is fragmented, with advocacy efforts by academic centers influencing discourse. The review highlights significant palliative care progress in Tanzanian cancer management, especially via KCMC and KCRI. However, challenges like limited rural coverage, inadequate training, and poor medication access persist. Findings underscore need for policy implementation, curriculum integration, and dedicated funding, particularly for rural services. Future research focus on outcome evaluations and scalable community interventions.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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