title: Providing Palliative Care to Patients with Cancer: Addressing the Needs in Kenya.
abstract: Cancer is the third highest cause of death in Kenya, preceded by infectious and cardiovascular diseases, and in most cases, diagnosed in later stages. Nurses are the primary caregivers, assessing and managing these patients in the clinic, in inpatient settings, and in rural and remote communities. While cancer rates remain high, the burden to the patient, the caregiver, and society as a whole continues to rise. Kenya's poverty complicates cancer even further. Many Kenyans are unaware of cancer's signs and symptoms, and limited diagnostic and treatment centers are available. Despite these barriers, there is still hope and help for those in Kenya, who suffer from cancer. The World Health Organization has stated that palliative care is a basic human right and nurses providing this care in Kenya are making efforts to support cancer patients' ongoing needs, in order to promote compassionate palliative care and prevent suffering. The purpose of this paper is to address the palliative care needs of patients with cancer in Kenya by providing education to nurses and influencing health-care policy and education at micro and macro levels. A case study weaved throughout will highlight these issues.
authors.affiliation: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.affiliation: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Juli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boit
authors.affiliation: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarus
authors.affiliation: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marete
authors.affiliation: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.affiliation: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Zipporah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ali
keywords: Cancer care; oncology nurses; palliative care