The Saint Siluan warning signs of cancer in children: impact of education in rural South Africa.
Two thirds of children with cancer never reach a specialist centre for treatment in South Africa. The majority of those who present have advanced disease. A campaign was undertaken to educate the public and the primary health workers on the Saint Siluan early warning signs of cancer in children. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of new patients referred in the 6 years following the campaign (P = 0.001), but did not succeed in achieving the referral of patients at earlier stages of disease. This list of the warning signs appears to be useful in promoting awareness of cancer.
Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. poyiadji@mweb.co.za
Stelios
S
Poyiadjis
Linda
L
Wainwright
Gita
G
Naidu
Diane
D
Mackinnon
Janet
J
Poole
D002648:Child; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa