INTRODUCTION
Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer among childhood
cancers. Its global incidence is estimated at 9,000 new cases per year,
which corresponds to one case in 15,000 births; most in low-income
countries1.
Retinoblastoma is cured in more than 95% of cases in high income
countries2. However, in most low-income countries, the
prognosis is still bleak with high mortality reaching 95% in some
countries3. The reasons for this disparate and
disastrous situation include late diagnosis and treatment, refusal and
abandonment of treatment, as well as poor health
infrastructures3,4. The abandonment rate of childhood
cancer treatment is highest in low-income countries5.
In addition, the retinoblastoma dropout rate in low- and middle-income
countries is generally described as between 5% and 40%, respectively6. In most of these countries, the rate of enucleation
refusal varies from 1 to 50% 7, and the rate of loss
of follow-up after treatment varies from 10 to 75%8-12. This contributes to the high mortality rates of
retinoblastoma.
The rates and factors associated with abandonment and refusal of
treatment for retinoblastoma are poorly documented in sub-Saharan
Africa5,13. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the
factors related to this phenomenon to work to overcome them and draw
lessons for other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of
this study were to determine: 1) the rate of refusal and abandonment of
treatment for retinoblastoma, and 2) the factors associated with
adherence to treatment for retinoblastoma in the Ivory Coast and the
DRC.