Cancer Related Mortality in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria

A. Dodiyi-Manuel, P. N. Wichendu, S. T. Dodiyi-Manuel, O. G. Mba, J. O. Alegbeleye, B. P. Athanasius, T. J. Gbeneol, D. H. Ndefo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Globally, cancer is a leading cause of death
and source of resistance to increasing life expectancy. In 2019,
the World Health Organisation estimated cancer as the first or
second leading cause of death before the age of 70 in 112
countries and third or fourth in 23 other countries. Despite the
fact that cancer has been recognized as a public health problem,
there is paucity of data on cancer mortality in Nigeria. The aim
of this study is to determine the pattern of cancer mortality at
the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a 5 year retrospective
study of all cancer related deaths at the University of Port
Harcourt Teaching Hospital from 1st January, 2014 to 31st
December, 2018. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed
using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24.

RESULTS: There were 4449 deaths during the period under
review, of which 293 were cancer related deaths, giving a
mortality rate of 6.59%. There were 114 males and 179 females
giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Cancer of the breast was
the most common cause of cancer death and accounted for 61
(20.8%) deaths within the study period.

CONCLUSION: Cancer is a major cause of mortality in Nigeria.
Cancer of the breast is the leading cause of cancer mortality in
females and overall while cancer of the prostate remains the
commonest in men. WAJM 2022; 39(3): 237–240.

Keywords: Cancer, mortality, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.