BACKGROUND: African women are affected by cancer at an early age of their productivity. However, the exact prevalence and incidence of cancer, including breast cancer is not known in most sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia because of lack of well-established cancer registry. This study aims to assess the epidemiology of breast cancer at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH), the biggest referral hospital with cancer treatment center serving the southern part of the country.
METHODS: Retrospective review of charts of all patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer between 2013 and 2019 at HUCSH was conducted. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect relevant data that include sociodemographic, symptoms, type of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Data were entered using epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS version 20.
RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-nine (18.6%) breast cancer cases were retrieved in 7 years between 2013 and 2019. Of this, 548 (98%) were women. The median ages of the patents were 38 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the leading 309 (55.3%) histologic type followed by 185 (33.1%) lobular carcinoma. One hundred seventy-seven (31.7%) were moderately differentiated and 155 (27.7%) were poorly differentiated. Three hundred seventy-two (66.5%) were advanced breast cancer (Stages III and IV). Trends of breast cancer showed the case load is continuously increasing except with a slight reduction of cases in between 2015 and 2016. The majority were advanced breast cancer occurring at an early age by the time diagnosis made. Invasive ductal carcinomas were the predominant one. The trend also showed a continuous increment of cancer case load. Therefore, cancer registration center establishment, community awareness creation, and intensive early detection strategy are mandatory.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of and contributors to maternal death at Hawassa Referral Comprehensive Specialised Hospital (HRCSH). A health facility-based, maternal death review was used. All maternal deaths that occurred between January 2016 and August 2017 in HRCSH were included. Data were collected using a structured data collection sheet and analysed. Eighty-two maternal deaths that occurred over a 20-month period were reviewed, of which 77 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 8466 births occurred in HRCSH during the study period. The overall facility-based maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 910 deaths per 100,000 live births. The majority of maternal deaths (69 deaths; 89.6%) were due to direct causes, with pregnancy-induced hypertension as the leading direct cause of 33 deaths (42.8%). Eight avoidable factors were identified in this review. Twenty-six patients (33.9%) died as a result of a combination of three or more factors. Patient-oriented and transport/referral factors were the most common avoidable factors, with each contributing to 62 deaths (80.5%). Prenatal patients would benefit from receiving information regarding danger signs that could assist in the early detection of health problems and increase the likelihood that they seek health care.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Most maternal deaths are preventable. However, maternal mortality rates remain high despite the presence of multiple measures in the southern part of Ethiopia. There is no adequate information about the maternal death rate in the study setting.What do the results of this study add? Hawassa Referral Comprehensive Specialised Hospital is a regional health centre. This study found that combinations of several factors may be contributing to a high maternal death rate. Most notably, transport, delay management initiation after admission and referral factors account for the majority of maternal deaths.What is the implication of these findings for clinical practice/or further research? Identification of potential problems could assist context-based management of problems. It helps in improving the level of practical skills for the management of pregnancy-related complications like hypertension. It also solves problems in the health services system like access to interventions. It insists on intersectoral collaboration to solve the transportation problems.