Barriers to accessing cancer care services in Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa: cancer survivors’ perspectives
1
School of Public Health, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1774
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The World Health Organization estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths globally in 2022, underscoring cancer as a major cause of mortality. Equitable cancer care requires timely access to prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up services. In rural South Africa, access is shaped by structural, economic, systemic, and sociocultural factors. This study explored cancer survivors’ experiences in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga to identify barriers to accessing care.
METHODS:
A qualitative study was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022 using semi-structured interviews with adult cancer survivors receiving care at tertiary referral hospitals in Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. Purposive and convenience sampling were used to recruit participants aged 18 years and older who could provide informed consent and describe their care experiences. Interviews explored diagnostic pathways, comorbidities, and barriers to accessing cancer services. Data were analysed inductively using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, with findings interpreted through the World Health Organization health system building blocks framework.
RESULTS:
Thirty-two cancer survivors aged 30–74 years participated in the study. Most were women (n=25) and unemployed (n=23). Breast cancer (n=14) and cervical cancer (n=9) were the most common diagnoses, together accounting for over two-thirds of cases. Smaller numbers of prostate, thyroid, stomach, and Kaposi’s sarcoma cases were reported. Four themes emerged: poor infrastructure, financial constraints, environmental and contextual challenges, and health system barriers. These findings illustrate multidimensional obstacles faced by rural cancer patients, including delayed diagnosis, fragmented referral pathways, and treatment interruptions.
CONCLUSIONS:
Cancer survivors in rural South Africa experience significant structural, economic, and social barriers that limit timely access to care and increase vulnerability. Addressing these challenges requires decentralised oncology services, strengthened referral systems, improved transport and patient education support, and integrated psychosocial care. Coordinated, community-responsive health system reforms are essential to advance equitable cancer care.
The World Health Organization estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths globally in 2022, underscoring cancer as a major cause of mortality. Equitable cancer care requires timely access to prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up services. In rural South Africa, access is shaped by structural, economic, systemic, and sociocultural factors. This study explored cancer survivors’ experiences in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga to identify barriers to accessing care.
METHODS:
A qualitative study was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022 using semi-structured interviews with adult cancer survivors receiving care at tertiary referral hospitals in Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. Purposive and convenience sampling were used to recruit participants aged 18 years and older who could provide informed consent and describe their care experiences. Interviews explored diagnostic pathways, comorbidities, and barriers to accessing cancer services. Data were analysed inductively using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, with findings interpreted through the World Health Organization health system building blocks framework.
RESULTS:
Thirty-two cancer survivors aged 30–74 years participated in the study. Most were women (n=25) and unemployed (n=23). Breast cancer (n=14) and cervical cancer (n=9) were the most common diagnoses, together accounting for over two-thirds of cases. Smaller numbers of prostate, thyroid, stomach, and Kaposi’s sarcoma cases were reported. Four themes emerged: poor infrastructure, financial constraints, environmental and contextual challenges, and health system barriers. These findings illustrate multidimensional obstacles faced by rural cancer patients, including delayed diagnosis, fragmented referral pathways, and treatment interruptions.
CONCLUSIONS:
Cancer survivors in rural South Africa experience significant structural, economic, and social barriers that limit timely access to care and increase vulnerability. Addressing these challenges requires decentralised oncology services, strengthened referral systems, improved transport and patient education support, and integrated psychosocial care. Coordinated, community-responsive health system reforms are essential to advance equitable cancer care.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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