Master’s Research Highlights Burden on Families of Cancer Sufferers

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A UKZN study has found that family caregivers suffer psychological, social and financial challenges as a result of caring for a family member living with cancer.

The finding was made by Ms Phindile Mlaba, a junior researcher in the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme (MLCCP) in the School of Nursing and Public Health, during research for her master’s thesis titled: The Psychosocial and Perceived Economic Experiences of Families Caring for Members Living with Cancer in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mlaba, who graduated with a Master of Medical Science in Public Health degree, was supervised by Dr Khumbulani Hlongwana and Dr Themba Ginindza.

The study assessed the psychological burden families experience while caring for members living with cancer and explored the social and economic hardships that befall families providing care for cancer sufferers.

Mlaba’s findings have shown that there is a need to recognise the psychosocial and economic needs of families caring for members living with cancer, particularly families of low-income households.

‘Family caregivers need social support from other family members, friends, the healthcare system and other sources,’ she said.

‘The psychosocial and financial needs of families caring for members living with cancer need to be considered in the development of healthcare policies and interventions.’

Her community-based study was conducted at five sites in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Mlaba has submitted two manuscripts addressing objectives of her dissertation to two journals for publication.

The abstract of one manuscript was accepted and presented at the MLCCP conference in Durban last month. The abstract was also accepted and will be presented at the AORTIC conference to be held in Mozambique in November and at the Qualitative Health Research (QHR) conference in Vancouver, Canada, next month.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Abhi Indrarajan