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Marital Status in Moroccan Long-term Childhood Cancer Survivors



Author(s)

N. Benaicha, F. Msefer Alaoui, K. Elrhazi1, O. SY, O. Desire and C. Nejjari

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DOI:10.17265/2328-7136/2015.06.001

In developed countries, currently, more than 80% of children with cancer survive and they are considered as cured. However, the survivors are at high risk of medical and social late effects. In Morocco, childhood cancer accounts for 3% of all cancers. The purpose of this study was to look for factors related to marital status in Moroccan childhood cancer survivors. This  was a cross-sectional study conducted among childhood cancer survivors treated between 1978 and 2004 at the Pediatric   Oncology Unit of Children's Hospital of Rabat. Medical and demographic data were collected through questionnaires completed   by phone or internet, by the survivor, his parent or his physician. Among 995 patients considered cured; only 195 were found.    The decline from the initial diagnosis varies from 10 years to 36 years, with a mean of 16.2 years and a standard deviation of 6.3 years. In our study, we found that 31 survivors (22.3%) of adult participants were married. They were aged between 23 and 43 (the mean was 31.8 and the SD was 5.9). Men, aged more than 35 years old and unemployed are less likely to be married. To our knowledge, there is no previous study about the fate of Moroccan childhood cancer survivors before our study. Hence, it was a cross-sectional study to have a quick picture on the situation in Morocco. It would be necessary to establish a follow-up strategy in Morocco.

Childhood, cancer, survivors, marriage, Morocco