The Community’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Childhood Cancer in Tanzania. A Case of Muhimbili Hospital.

Mlaki, Eliwangu E. (2023) The Community’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Childhood Cancer in Tanzania. A Case of Muhimbili Hospital. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study aimed to examine community’s knowledge, attitudes and practices toward children cancer among communities in Tanzania. Specifically, this study focused on; examining the community knowledge on symptoms and preventive measures of children cancer among parents and guardians attending their children at Muhimbili National Hospital, determining attitudes towards children cancer among parents and guardians attending Muhimbili National Hospital and determining the practices against children cancer among parents and guardians attending their children at Muhimbili National Hospital. Mixed research design was used in data collection and analysis. The information and data were coded and collected by using Kobo which produce frequencies, percentages and tabulations which were presented in tables, and graphs. The finding indicated that; most of parents and guardians attending their children at Muhimbili hospital have little knowledge about children cancer and few of them heard about children cancer from media (radio, television, newspapers and social media), friends and health facilities. Most of parents and guardians attending their children at Muhimbili hospital have negative attitude toward children cancer and they have lower perceived risk of their children being diagnosed with children cancer. The finding indicates that; physical exercise, eating less fat food and fruits are the best practices that parents and guardian with children diagnosed with cancers do to reduce death rate for their child. The finding indicates that, parents and guardian mentioned education, seminars and concealing as measure to be taken to increase community knowledge, awareness and attitude on childhood cancers. It was recommended that, there should be intensive effort to increase parents and guardian’s knowledge and understanding on children cancer covering the symptoms and early warning signs of childhood cancer. Keywords: Childhood cancer, early warning signs, knowledge, attitude and practice.

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