The problem of treatment abandonment in children from developing countries with cancer.
BACKGROUND
There is an inequality gap between the outcome of childhood cancer in resource, rich and limited countries. Abandonment of treatment is one of the reasons for this.


METHODS
We searched the medical literature for evidence on abandonment, its causes, and any preventative interventions.


RESULTS
Abandonment is a very real problem all across the developing world. Cancers associated with poorer prognosis seem to have higher abandonment rates. It is also related to the socio-economic and educational status of parents, travel time to treatment centers, and affordable, locally available treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Twinning between institutions, which includes several preventative interventions, has clearly been shown to work.
Arora
Ramandeep Singh
RS
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom. reemaraman@doctors.org.uk
Eden
Tim
T
Pizer
Barry
B
D002648:Child; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D011379:Prognosis; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data