Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Repetitive Cancer Training for Community Healthcare Workers: an Effective Method to Strengthen Knowledge and Impact on the Communities: Results from a Pilot Training at Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cancer is a growing burden in Tanzania with high mortality rates. Low level of cancer awareness in the population and health workforce is one of the reasons. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a cancer awareness training for community-level healthcare providers in Kilimanjaro Region. Main research interest was to assess the effects of the training on cancer knowledge of the healthcare workers and its application into practice. Community health workers (CHWs) (n = 25) and dispensary healthcare workers (DHCWs) (n = 16) attended cancer awareness trainings. Three training days over a 3-month period were provided for each group. Pre- and post-training assessments of the cancer knowledge were conducted on each training day. Application of the knowledge into practice was assessed at follow-up and complemented with qualitative data. Analysis of the questionnaires was provided by descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed by semantic thematic analysis. Both groups showed a statistically significant increase in knowledge after the three training days: CHWs + 10% (CI 95% = 2–18%, p = 0.015) and DHCWs 24.4% (CI 95% = 13–36%, p = 0.002). The community-level healthcare providers also started to apply the new cancer knowledge into practice and reported to feel more confident in cancer control. The pilot cancer awareness training was effective in increasing cancer knowledge and its application. It strengthened their confidence in care delivery and referral practices as well as education of the population. This concept of cancer awareness training might be also applicable to other countries in SSA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Global Burden of Disease Cancer, C (2018) Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2016: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study. JAMA Oncol. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.2706

  2. Morhason-Bello IO, Odedina F, Rebbeck TR, Harford J, Dangou J-M, Denny L, Adewole IF (2013) Challenges and opportunities in cancer control in Africa: a perspective from the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer. Lancet Oncol 14(4):e142–e151. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70482-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Simard EP, Jemal A (2013) Commentary: Infection-related cancers in low- and middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Epidemiology 42(1):228–229. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dys216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. GLOBOCAN (2012). Cancer Fact Sheets. Available at: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx [accessed 24.07.19]

  5. Busolo DS, Woodgate RL (2015) Cancer prevention in Africa: a re-view of the literature. Global Health Promotion 22(2):31–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757975914537094

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Shulman LN, Willett W, Sievers A, Knaul FM (2010) Breast cancer in developing countries: opportunities for improved survival. Journal of Oncology 2010:595167. https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/595167

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Rick TJ, Merinyo JJ (2017) Call for breast cancer risk factor education in countries with limited health care resources. Journal of Global Oncology 3(4):427–428. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2016.007781

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Urasa M, Darj E (2011) Knowledge of cervical cancer and screening practices of nurses at a regional hospital in Tanzania. African Health Sciences 11(1):48–57

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Rick TJ, Deming CM, Helland JR, Hartwig KA (2019 Feb) (2017). Cancer training for frontline healthcare providers in Tanzania. J Cancer Educ 34(1):111–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-017-1274-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sue K, Rosenberg J, Weintraub R (2016) Addressing Tanzania’s health workforce crisis through a public-private partnership: the case of TTCIH. Harvard Business Publishing

  11. Foundation for Cancer Care Tanzania (2015). Meeting the challenge of cancer care in northern Tanzania. A program for comprehensive and sustainable care. Minnesota. Retrieved from: https://www.iccp-portal.org/sites/default/files/resources/FCCT-White-Paper.pdf [accessed 16.12.18]

  12. Mills A, Ataguba JE, Akazili J, Borghi J, Garshong B, Makawia S et al (2012) Equity in financing and use of health care in Ghana, South Africa, and Tanzania: implications for paths to universal coverage. The Lancet 380:126–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60357-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. National Bureau of Statistics, United Republic of Tanzania (2013) 2010 Population and housing census, Population Distribution by Administrative Areas. Dar es Salaam.

  14. O'Donovan J, O'Donovan C, Kuhn I, Sachs SE, Winters N (2018) Ongoing training of community health workers in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review of the literature. BMJ Open 8(4):e021467. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021467

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Pathfinder International/Tanzania (2006). Mapping of community home based care services in five regions of the Tanzania mainland. Dar es Salaam.

  16. Olaniran A, Smith H, Unkels R, Bar-Zeev S, van den Broek N (2017) Who is a community health worker? - a systematic review of definitions. Global Health Action 10(1):1272223. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2017.1272223

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Wane, W. & Martin, G. (2015). Health service delivery in Tanzania (English). Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. Retrieved from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/520361468185934337/Health-service-delivery-in-Tanzania [accessed 10.11.18]

  18. Ochomo EO, Atieli H, Gumo S, Ouma C (2017) Assessment of community health volunteers’ knowledge on cervical cancer in Kadibo Division, Kisumu County: a cross sectional survey. BMC Health Services Re-search 17(1):E359. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2593-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW), The United Republic of Tanzania (2012) National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS), 2013-2022. Dar es Salaam. Retrieved from: https://www.iccp-portal.org/system/files/plans/NCSS%20Book.pdf [accessed 10.11.18]

  20. Peters LM, Soliman AS, Bukori P, Mkuchu J, Ngoma T (2010) Evidence for the need of educational programs for cervical screening in rural Tanzania. Journal of Cancer Education 25:153–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-009-0018-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Maher D, Cometto G (2016) Research on community-based health workers is needed to achieve the sustainable development goals. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 94:786. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.185918

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Stanifer JW, Patel UD, Karia F, Thielman N, Maro V, Shimbi D et al (2015) The determinants of traditional medicine use in Northern Tanzania: a mixed-methods study. PloS One 10:e0122638. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122638

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Lunyera J, Wang D, Maro V, Karia F, Boyd D, Omolo J et al (2016) Traditional medicine practices among community members with diabetes mellitus in Northern Tanzania: an ethnomedical survey. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 16:282. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1262-2

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Kwesigabo G, Mwangu MA, Kakoko DC, Warriner I, Mkony CA, Killewo J et al (2012) Tanzania's health system and workforce crisis. Journal of Public Health Policy 33(Suppl 1):S35–S44. https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2012.55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. UNICEF & WHO (2018) Declaration of Astana: Global Conference on Primary Health Care, Astana, Kazakhstan, 25 and 26 October 2018. Geneva: WHO. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/primary-health/declaration/gcphc-declaration.pdf [accessed 10.01.19]

  26. Göhlich M (ed) (2014) Pädagogische Theorien des Lernens, 2nd edn. Beltz Juventa, Weinheim

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Regina Singer and Antje Henke contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Berlin School of Public Heath, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Regina Singer

  2. Cancer Care Centre, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P.O. Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania

    Antje Henke, Julius Pius Alloyce, Furaha Serventi, Anna Massawe & Oliver Henke

Authors
  1. Regina Singer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Antje Henke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julius Pius Alloyce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Furaha Serventi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anna Massawe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Oliver Henke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oliver Henke.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Singer, R., Henke, A., Alloyce, J.P. et al. Repetitive Cancer Training for Community Healthcare Workers: an Effective Method to Strengthen Knowledge and Impact on the Communities: Results from a Pilot Training at Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. J Canc Educ 36, 470–477 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01648-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01648-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation