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Original Research
Two-year overall survival of children with cancer between 2015 and 2021 in Zimbabwe
Submitted: 04 August 2025 | Published: 17 December 2025
About the author(s)
Laura P. Valerio Sibanda, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; and, KidzCan, Harare, ZimbabweAnel van Zyl, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty o Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Tonya M. Esterhuizen, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Daniel Mckenzie, KidzCan, Harare, Zimbabwe
Loyce Hlatywayo, Department of Paediatric Oncology, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe
Patience Kuona, Department of Child, Adolescent and Women’s Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; and, Department of Paediatrics, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe
Vongai Dondo, Department of Paediatrics, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe
Mariana Kruger, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty o Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; and, School of Psychology, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Childhood cancer survival in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is low, and data are limited.
Aim: We investigated 1-year and 2-year overall survival (OS) of children diagnosed with cancer in Zimbabwe between 2015 and 2021.
Setting: Retrospective childhood cancer data from 2015 to 2022 were collected from KidzCan’s database.
Methods: Demographic data, cancer diagnosis and performance status were collected to determine OS 2 years post-cancer diagnosis. Data were analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis.
Results: A total of 514 from 1090 childhood cancer cases were analysed (576 cases were excluded because of missing data). The mean age at diagnosis was 5.0 years (standard deviation 3.8), with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.25. One-year OS was 38% (mean 7.5 months; 95% confidence interval [CI] [7.1–8.0]) and 2-year OS was 17.3% (mean 10 months; 95% CI [9.7–11.4]). Male cases (21.9%) had a better 2-year OS compared to female cases (10%) (p = 0.012). Lymphoma and retinoblastoma had the best 2-year OS (29% and 28%, respectively) (p = 0.002). Children active at diagnosis (28%) had an improved 2-year OS than those who were frail (11.5%) and bedridden (13%) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Sex, cancer diagnosis and performance status were associated with OS. Long-term follow-up is essential to determine long-term outcomes for all children treated with cancer. This study highlights the vital role of civil society organisations in supporting the establishment of a local childhood cancer registry.
Contribution: This study will significantly contribute to understanding childhood cancer survival in LMICs like Zimbabwe and provide a baseline for future research.
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goal
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