Within EpiMaCT, Freddy Gnangnon analyzed the burden of breast cancer in Benin and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Freddy Gnangnon, chercheur·e au sein de EpiMaCT (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement).
Thèse soutenue en 2024 à l'école doctorale École doctorale Ω-LIM-Biologie-Chimie-Santé (Limoges ; 2022-).
Référencée dans le réseau ABES/STAR, cette thèse répond aux critères de rigueur de l'enseignement supérieur français.
Breast cancer represents a major public health challenge in Benin and Sub-Saharan Africa, a reality that can no longer be ignored. Freddy Gnangnon's thesis highlights alarming realities that call into question not only health professionals but also society as a whole. Approximately 65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, contributing to some of the highest mortality rates in the world. This tragic finding is the result of limited access to care, a lack of awareness, and insufficient coordination of care. Women in this region face considerable obstacles in obtaining early diagnosis and adequate treatment, raising crucial questions about health equity.
The prognostic factors identified in this research underscore the importance of an integrated approach to improve early detection and access to care. Indeed, health infrastructures are often inadequate, and human and material resources are severely lacking. For example, in many rural areas of Benin, women must travel miles to reach a health center, and even when this is possible, they encounter outdated equipment and often overwhelmed medical staff. The recommendations of the thesis include integrating prognostic factors into screening programs, as well as the need to raise public awareness about the risks associated with non-communicable diseases.
It is imperative to act quickly to reverse this alarming trend. Decision-makers must be aware of the urgency of improving screening strategies and access to treatments. Implementing awareness and education campaigns on breast cancer could play a key role in reducing late diagnoses. These campaigns could include community workshops, posters in health centers, and awareness programs on radio and television. At the same time, strengthening the capacities of hospitals and health professionals is essential to ensure an effective continuum of care.
Gnangnon's thesis is not limited to a simple analysis of epidemiological data. It calls for collective mobilization to address this scourge. Public health actors, governments, and non-governmental organizations must collaborate to develop health policies tailored to local realities. For example, initiatives such as ongoing training for doctors and nurses on best practices in breast cancer screening and treatment could have a significant impact.
In summary, this research provides a solid foundation for concrete actions aimed at improving the health of women in Benin and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is essential that the international community, as well as donors, recognize the importance of supporting targeted health projects in this region. Breast cancer should not be seen as a fatality, but rather as a challenge that we can overcome together. The commitment of all stakeholders is necessary to transform this reality and offer women in Benin and Sub-Saharan Africa the hope of a better life, free from the burden of cancer.
Données clés
- 65% : proportion des cas de cancer du sein diagnostiqués à un stade avancé à Cotonou, Bénin.
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Sources et accès
Freddy Gnangnon. Contribution à la connaissance du fardeau et des facteurs pronostiques du cancer du sein au Bénin et en Afrique au Sud du Sahara. Médecine humaine et pathologie. Université de Limoges; Université d'Abomey-Calavi UAC (Bénin), 2024. Français. ⟨NNT : 2024LIMO0057⟩. ⟨tel-04921380⟩