Abstract
Kenya is an East African country. The north eastern province is one of the eight provinces in Kenya. The overall population is estimated to be 2,385,572 and it is unevenly distributed in the area, which is 126,906km2. The area is mostly inhabited by the pastoralist community of ethnic Somali origin. The only general hospital for the province is located at Garissa town, hence the catchment area. Earlier reports indicated that cancer is the third most common cause of death in Kenya. However, there are no data on the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of cancer in the north eastern province. Hence there is a need for analysis and publishing of hospital registered data. The main aim of this study is to analyse data for newly diagnosed cancer patients in Garissa Referral General Hospital of the north eastern region of Kenya.
This study involved a review of all available histopathological reports from January, 2008, to August, 2012, from Garissa General Hospital. All reports of newly diagnosed cancers were abstracted and analysed according to gender, age, type of cancer, and ethnical background. The age groups of the study were <14, 15–19, 20–44, 45–64, >65years. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software package.
The total number of newly diagnosed cancer patients was 217. The number has increased every year, from 35 in 2008, 40 in 2009, 39 in 2010, 45 in 2011, to 58 in 2012. The most affected age groups were 20–44years (31%) and 45–64years (30%). Oesophageal carcinoma was the leading type of cancer (33%) followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (9%). The most affected age groups with oesophageal cancer were 45–64years (36%) and >65years (34%). Men were the most affected with the male to female ratio being 1.3:1 respectively.
Newly diagnosed cancer cases are increasing every year with oesophageal cancer being the most common type in the north eastern province, the catchment area of Garissa General Hospital. There is a need to carry out community-based research rather than hospital-based research to investigate the real picture of cancer in the Garissa district.