{
  "id": 16077636,
  "title": "Study finds cost, distance delay childhood cancer care in Kenya",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/study-finds-cost-distance-delay-childhood-cancer-care-in-kenya",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-22T17:13:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital Business",
    "slug": "capital-business",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/study-finds-cost-distance-delay-childhood-cancer-care-in-kenya/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study conducted by Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital reveals that financial constraints, long distances to specialist hospitals, and limited awareness of childhood cancer are delaying timely diagnosis and treatment for children in Kenya. More than 70 percent of caregivers surveyed earn less than Sh20,000 monthly, while half are unemployed, with insurance coverage gaps and treatment costs posing major obstacles. Kenya records approximately 3,000 new childhood cancer cases each year, but fewer than 30 percent of these children survive compared to over 80 percent in high-income countries. Study principal investigator Dr. Doreen Karimi Mutua emphasized that early diagnosis is critical yet hindered by financial, logistical, and awareness issues. Some families traveled up to 981 kilometers to reach specialized hospitals, and nearly half of the caregivers had never heard of childhood cancer before their child's illness. Researchers recommend enhancing community engagement and improving referral systems between primary healthcare and specialist centers. The two-year study, which covered six hospitals, found a median of 46 days between symptom recognition and diagnosis, with a median of 11 days from diagnosis to treatment initiation. Stakeholders are now focusing on improving early diagnosis and addressing barriers to treatment through coordinated efforts.",
  "summary": "NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 22 – Financial constraints, long distances to specialist hospitals and limited awareness of childhood cancer are delaying diagnosis and treatment for children in Kenya, a study by…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Medical Xpress",
        "title": "Study finds health care provider photos in waiting rooms can strengthen patient trust",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/study-finds-health-care-provider-photos-in-waiting-rooms-can",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:00:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}