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Education in Moroccan Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors



Author(s)

Nadia Benaicha, Fouzia Msefer Alaoui, Karima Elrhazi, Oussmane Desire Diakite, Oussmane Sy and Chakib Nejjari

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DOI:10.17265/1548-6648/2016.02.004

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 education 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. Educated survivors are more likely to live with their partner (P < 0.0001), and most of them are students (P < 0.0001). They have less cognitive problems than the not educated (P < 0.0001). 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. This survey revealed that Moroccan survivors didn’t suffer from education problems. Actually, most of them continued their education during or after their treatment.

Childhood, cancer, survivors, education, Morocco.