Modelling the Sex – Specific Prevalence of Cancer Types in Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape Provincial Hospitals in South Africa

Abstract

Cancer has been identified to be a major community health issue of concern to many societies. This is of particular interest when it comes to the developing South Africa. The epidemiology of cancer cases has been made known, though still under study. This research intended to understand the prevalence of different cancers and suggest preventive measures to reduce the burden of the disease and furthermore, reduce the effect of destruction to those affected in good time. The methods for data collection and overall treatment classified the study to be a cross-sectional study whose data were collected by use of a questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on variables such as counts of breast cancer, cervix cancer counts, oesophageal cancer counts and counts of other types of cancer. The analysis was analysed by use of descriptive and inferential analyses. Outcomes were well tabulated and interpreted. The results were obtained by the application of a number of methods, which were used to perform the analysis for this study. The methods were: descriptive analysis, T-test comparisons and some were complemented by error bar plots and box-plots. The following were some of the observed results for the indicated variables: Breast Cancer: Mean (201.4545), Std Dev (18.62452), 95% Ci (164.21, 238.70); Kaposi Sarcoma: Mean (29.4167), Std Dev (6.76163), 95% Ci (15.89, 42.94); Prostate Cancer: Mean (7.7500), Std Dev (.71217), 95% Ci (-1.67, 17.17); Lung Cancer: Mean (6.9167), Std Dev (.67848), 95% Ci (1.56, 12.27); Choriocarcinoma: Mean (5.3333), Std Dev (2.77434), 95% Ci (-0.22, 0.88). It is quite fitting to understand that this research as a revelation of the establishment of some very important outcomes. Of great significance, was the discovery that breast cancer among women continued to destroy the female gender in the communities where the data were collected. Results further show that cervix cancer is another cancer on the rise with a higher prevalence rate in the stated communities.