Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study
Objective Recent studies have identified challenges facing women oncologists in Western contexts. However, similar studies in Africa have yet to be conducted. This study sought to determine the most common and substantial challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa and identify potential solutio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://bmjoncology.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000125.full |
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| author | Doreen Ramogola-Masire Reshma Jagsi Matthew Jalink Verna Vanderpuye Nwamaka Lasebikan Miriam Mutebi Nazik Hammad Susan Msadabwe Laura Carson Dorothy Chilambe Lombe Zainab Doleeb Haimanot Kasahun Alemu Nesrine Chraiet Naa Adorkor Aryeetey Zainab Mohamed Nazima Jaffer Dharsee Sitna Mwanzi Khadija Warfa Emmanuella Nwachukwu Edom Seife Woldetsadik Hirondina Vaz Borges Spencer |
| author_facet | Doreen Ramogola-Masire Reshma Jagsi Matthew Jalink Verna Vanderpuye Nwamaka Lasebikan Miriam Mutebi Nazik Hammad Susan Msadabwe Laura Carson Dorothy Chilambe Lombe Zainab Doleeb Haimanot Kasahun Alemu Nesrine Chraiet Naa Adorkor Aryeetey Zainab Mohamed Nazima Jaffer Dharsee Sitna Mwanzi Khadija Warfa Emmanuella Nwachukwu Edom Seife Woldetsadik Hirondina Vaz Borges Spencer |
| author_sort | Doreen Ramogola-Masire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Recent studies have identified challenges facing women oncologists in Western contexts. However, similar studies in Africa have yet to be conducted. This study sought to determine the most common and substantial challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa and identify potential solutions.Methods and analysis A panel of 29 women oncologists from 20 African countries was recruited through professional and personal networks. A Delphi consensus process identified challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa, and potential solutions. Following this, focus group discussions were held to discuss the results. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the most common challenges indicated by participants and thematic analysis was conducted on focus group transcripts.Results African women oncologists experienced challenges at individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels. The top-ranked challenge identified in the Delphi study was ‘pressure to maintain a work–family balance and meet social obligations’. Some of the challenges identified were similar to those in studies on women oncologists outside of Africa while others were unique to this African demographic. Solutions to improve the experience of women oncologists were identified and discussed, including greater work flexibility and mentorship opportunities.Conclusion Women oncologists in Africa experience many of the challenges that have been previously identified by studies in other regions. These challenges and potential solutions exist at all levels of the social-ecological framework. Women oncologists must be empowered in number and leadership, and gender-sensitive curricula and competencies must be implemented. A systems-level dialogue could bring light to these challenges and foster tangible action and policy-level changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72437e70c5324c4481583eac1218444b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2752-7948 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-72437e70c5324c4481583eac1218444b2025-01-30T09:40:12ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Oncology2752-79482024-07-013110.1136/bmjonc-2023-000125Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods studyDoreen Ramogola-Masire0Reshma Jagsi1Matthew Jalink2Verna Vanderpuye3Nwamaka Lasebikan4Miriam Mutebi5Nazik Hammad6Susan Msadabwe7Laura Carson8Dorothy Chilambe Lombe9Zainab Doleeb10Haimanot Kasahun Alemu11Nesrine Chraiet12Naa Adorkor Aryeetey13Zainab Mohamed14Nazima Jaffer Dharsee15Sitna Mwanzi16Khadija Warfa17Emmanuella Nwachukwu18Edom Seife Woldetsadik19Hirondina Vaz Borges Spencer207University of Botswana, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gaborone, BotswanaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Atlanta, USAQueen`s University, Kingston, Kingston, CanadaNational Center for Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana, Accra, GhanaCenter for Translation and Implementation Research (CTAIR), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, NigeriaSurgery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi County, Nairobi, KenyaMedicine, St. Michael`s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Diseases Hospital, Lusaka, ZambiaQueen`s University, Kingston, Kingston, CanadaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, MidCentral District Health Board, Palmerston North, New ZealandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Toronto, CanadaSaint Pauls Hospital Millenium Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSalah Azaiez National Cancer Institute, Tunis, TunisiaKorle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South AfricaMuhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic ofHematology and Oncology, The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaAga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, KenyaNational Hospital Abuja Nigeria, Abuja, NigeriaOncology, Black Lion Hospital, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Adis Ababa, EthiopiaHospital Univrsitário Hospital Agostinho Neto, Praia, Cabo VerdeObjective Recent studies have identified challenges facing women oncologists in Western contexts. However, similar studies in Africa have yet to be conducted. This study sought to determine the most common and substantial challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa and identify potential solutions.Methods and analysis A panel of 29 women oncologists from 20 African countries was recruited through professional and personal networks. A Delphi consensus process identified challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa, and potential solutions. Following this, focus group discussions were held to discuss the results. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the most common challenges indicated by participants and thematic analysis was conducted on focus group transcripts.Results African women oncologists experienced challenges at individual, interpersonal, institutional and societal levels. The top-ranked challenge identified in the Delphi study was ‘pressure to maintain a work–family balance and meet social obligations’. Some of the challenges identified were similar to those in studies on women oncologists outside of Africa while others were unique to this African demographic. Solutions to improve the experience of women oncologists were identified and discussed, including greater work flexibility and mentorship opportunities.Conclusion Women oncologists in Africa experience many of the challenges that have been previously identified by studies in other regions. These challenges and potential solutions exist at all levels of the social-ecological framework. Women oncologists must be empowered in number and leadership, and gender-sensitive curricula and competencies must be implemented. A systems-level dialogue could bring light to these challenges and foster tangible action and policy-level changes.https://bmjoncology.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000125.full |
| spellingShingle | Doreen Ramogola-Masire Reshma Jagsi Matthew Jalink Verna Vanderpuye Nwamaka Lasebikan Miriam Mutebi Nazik Hammad Susan Msadabwe Laura Carson Dorothy Chilambe Lombe Zainab Doleeb Haimanot Kasahun Alemu Nesrine Chraiet Naa Adorkor Aryeetey Zainab Mohamed Nazima Jaffer Dharsee Sitna Mwanzi Khadija Warfa Emmanuella Nwachukwu Edom Seife Woldetsadik Hirondina Vaz Borges Spencer Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study BMJ Oncology |
| title | Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study |
| title_full | Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study |
| title_short | Challenges faced by women oncologists in Africa: a mixed methods study |
| title_sort | challenges faced by women oncologists in africa a mixed methods study |
| url | https://bmjoncology.bmj.com/content/3/1/e000125.full |
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