Factors Associated with the Death of Children with Cancer in the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Unit at Donka National Hospital (Guinea)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to document the factors associated with death in children with cancer in the haematology-oncology unit of the paediatric department at Donka National Hospital between 1 January 2018 and 31 june 2021. Methods: This was a retrospective-prospective analytical study : retrospective over a 3-year period from 1 January 2018 to 30 june 2021. Results: We identified 122 cases of cancer-related deaths, representing 52.81% of the total. Males accounted for the majority of cases, representing 52.45% of the total. The under-2 age group was the most represented, accounting for 28.68%, with an average age of 4.39 years (3.97 years) and extremes of 1 year and 18 years. 57.37% of patients resided outside Conakry. The most common cancer was Burkitt's lymphoma, accounting for 31.14%. The factors associated with death with a statistically significant p-value were age : p-value 0.018; distance from home to the unit : p-value 0.001; the family's socioeconomic status : p-value 0.04; and the type of chemotherapy used : p-value 0.018. Conclusion: Although rare, childhood cancer remains a significant cause of mortality in children. The high mortality rate of these cancers in Guinea demonstrates the importance of this study and highlights the need for an epidemiological surveillance programme to improve care.