Thesis:

Estimation of the trend of cancer incidences in Kiambu and Gatundu level five hospitals, Kiambu county Kenya between 2013 and 2017

Cancer is an abnormal division of cells without control, thus invading other tissues. It is a combination of different diseases but named according to the organ origin or the cell they originate from. This study estimated the trend of cancer incidences in Kiambu County in two selected health facilities which are Gatundu Level 5 and Kiambu Level 5 hospitals in a period of five years from 2013 to 2017. In addition to determining the association between alcohol and tobacco use and cancer among individuals attending Kiambu and Gatundu level 5 medical centers between 2013 and 2017, the study's objectives also included determining the distribution of cancer by age, sex, and cancer type among these patients. To address the above-named objectives the study used a descriptive cross-section design. Standard abstract forms were adopted to collect data from the hospital records and patients’ files. The number of cancer cases was abstracted from hospital files and used to calculate incidence within the five years. Cancer patient ages recorded from patient’s files were analyzed to determine age distribution per cancer type. Utilizing documented lifestyle variables (such as smoking and alcohol intake), the relative risk or odds of developing a particular cancer were determined. In order to produce a comprehensive data analysis, the gathered data was next checked for completeness, coded, and then the information was input into a program called the "Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23." Additionally, the descriptive information was examined and shown in charts, graphs, and tables. Through Thematic analysis, qualitative data was coded and displayed as tables, graphs, and charts. In the two hospitals, a total of 180 cancer patients were listed. 33.3% (60) at Kiambu level 5 hospital and 66.7% (120) at Gatundu level 5. Regarding the gender distribution of cancer incidences, 57 men and 123 women were affected. The two most common types of cancer among women, accounting for 33.4% and 11.7% of cases, were breast and cervical cancer, respectively. For men, the most common cancers were of the stomach and esophagus. In both facilities, there was a higher incidence of cancer among individuals aged 41-60. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that there was a substantial correlation between age and cancer (sign.-level =.016), sex and the main tumor sites of cancer (sig-level =.000), smoking and primary sites of cancer (sign. level =.001), and alcohol and primary sites of cancer (sign. Level =.000).