Introduction: Cancer is a disease that requires a great number of medical and psychosocial resources. Each year in Chile, 500 children are diagnosed with cancer, and the 5-year survival rates are similar to those of high-income countries (75%). National income is a crucial factor, given that it is directly related to cancer survival rates. In Chile, the Health System covers the medical costs of the disease. Fundación Nuestros Hijos (Our Children Foundation), a nonprofit organization, gives comprehensive assistance to children with cancer that are treated in Hospital Exequiel Gonzáles Cortés, among other centers.
Purpose: To describe the socioeconomic situation of families who have children diagnosed with cancer, who were treated in Hosptial Exequiel González Cortés in 2011. Methodology: For this descriptive and observational study, of the 69 children who were diagnosed with cancer in Hospital Exequiel Gonzáles Cortés during 2011, 57 were included in the study, and 12 were excluded: 6 because they were suffering relapse of a previously treated oncologica
disease, and the other 6 because all of their necessary data were not available. Results: Of the 57 children included in the study, 54% (n=31) were diagnosed with leukemia; the average age of the children was 6 years; and 35% (n=20) of patients came from the O’Higgins Region of Chile. Additionally, 32% (n=18) of the children’s mothers and 95% (n=40) of their fathers had paid employment; the average monthly family income was equivalent to USD$579 (lower than the national average USD$1,621), and USD$116 per capita. It was found that 35% of the children’s families shared their home with other families. Conclusions: These families’ economic and social conditions could be a risk factor for the survival of their children with cancer, if they do not have sufficient support to access appropriate treatment.
Zubieta, M., Vogel, E., González, C., Rosenblut, M., Fernández, J., Salgado, C., Álvarez, C., Prieto, C., & González, I. (2017). Socioeconomic profiles of families of children diagnosed with cancer: Hospital Exequiel González Cortés. Revista Chilena De Salud Pública, 21(1), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5281.2017.47656
