AI and digital health for childhood cancer care in Ghana

Résumé

Childhood cancers, though relatively rare compared to adult cancers, present a major global health challenge 1 . Each year, about 400,000 children and adolescents (aged 0–14) are newly diagnosed worldwide 2 , 3 . However, this estimate may fall short due to underreporting and the lack of reliable cancer registries, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) 4 . In the United States and Europe, the incidence of childhood cancer is estimated at around 150–160 cases per million children annually, while reported rates in LMICs range between 30 to 60 cases per million 4 . Globally, the most common types of childhood cancers include leukemia (about 30% of all cases, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)), central nervous system (CNS) tumours (20–25%), lymphomas (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 12–15%). Other prevalent types are neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour, retinoblastoma, and bone cancers such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma 5 . In high-income countries (HICs), leukemia, particularly ALL, and CNS tumours are the leading types 4 . In contrast, Burkitt lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma (often linked to HIV infection), and retinoblastoma are more common in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Southeast Asia 6 . In HICs, the 5-year survival rate for childhood cancers has significantly improved, reaching 80–85% due to advancements in diagnostics, treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery), and supportive care 7 . However, survival rate remains low in many LMICs at approximately around 20–30% 8 . This disparity is often attributed to delayed diagnosis, limited access to treatment, lack of specialised healthcare providers and inadequate follow-up care in LMICs 9 . Ghana is no exception, where childhood cancer poses a serious public health challenge 10 . Although paediatric cancers account for less than 5% of all cancers reported at health facilities in Ghana 11 , outcomes are greatly affected by limited healthcare infrastructure, delayed diagnoses, restricted access to essential treatments, financial barriers, and cultural beliefs 12 , 13 . These challenges highlight the urgent need for innovative solutions to bridge gaps in care delivery and enhance survival outcomes.

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