title: Early deaths and other challenges to childhood cancer survival in Ibadan, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of early deaths and the associated risk factors in children suffering from cancer at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study involving review of case notes of children suffering from cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Paediatrics, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of childhood cancer managed in the Department between January 1998 and December 2004. Inclusion criteria were histological or cytological confirmation of diagnosis, suggestive clinical features and availability of details about the course of the illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interval between diagnosis and death, rate of early death (death within 30 days of diagnosis) and risk factors for early death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty eight cases of childhood cancer were seen out of whom 52 died during the period. Four cases with incomplete data were excluded from subsequent statistical analysis. There were 29 (34.5%) early deaths defined as death within 30 days of diagnosis. The odds of early death were increased in the presence of bilateral kidney involvement, masses in the liver, splenic masses, pulmonary metastasis and stage D of Burkitt lymphoma. Logistic regression analysis revealed that pulmonary metastasis was a significant independent predictor ofearly death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early childhood cancer mortality rate is high. Early diagnosis and referral for appropriate care may reduce childhood cancer mortality in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics Univesity College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. biosbrown@yahoo.com
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bamgboye
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sodeinde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors