The role of daughters in relation to their mother’s cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment in Guatemala: a descriptive study

Abstract

PURPOSE There is currently no information on how caregivers for women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Guatemala, particularly daughters, are affected by their supportive role. This study’s objective was to describe the support role of caregivers in the country, with a focus on daughters with a mother diagnosed with cervical cancer. METHODS This analysis utilizes data from a cross-sectional study which aimed to understand pathways to cervical cancer care. Women seeking cervical cancer treatment at the Instituto de Cancerologia (INCAN) in Guatemala City, Guatemala and their companions were surveyed. Descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS 145 women seeking treatment and 71 companions participated in the study. Patient's daughters were most frequently reported as the person who provided the most support (51%) and as the most likely to have encouraged the patient to seek care. Furthermore, daughters were noted as the person most likely to fulfill the major household and livelihood roles of the patient while they were seeking or receiving treatment (38.0%). Most daughters reported that they were missing housework (77%), childcare (63%), and income-earning activities (60%) to attend the appointment with their mothers. CONCLUSION This study is the first to describe the support role of daughters of mothers receiving treatment for cervical cancer in Guatemala. The results suggests that daughters have a significant role in their mother’s cancer diagnosis and are often unable to participate in primary labor activities while providing support to the patient. This highlights an additional unexplored burden that cervical cancer has on women in Latin America.