Endometriosis among African women
Endometriosis has long been wrongly perceived to be rare among women of African descent. The misconception about the prevalence of endometriosis among African women has significantly contributed to long diagnostic delays, limited access to diagnosis and care, and a scarcity of research on the condit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bioscientifica
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Reproduction and Fertility |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://raf.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/raf/3/3/RAF-22-0040.xml |
| _version_ | 1798001376953892864 |
|---|---|
| author | Ezekiel O Mecha Joseph N Njagi Roselydiah N Makunja Charles O A Omwandho Philippa T K Saunders Andrew W Horne |
| author_facet | Ezekiel O Mecha Joseph N Njagi Roselydiah N Makunja Charles O A Omwandho Philippa T K Saunders Andrew W Horne |
| author_sort | Ezekiel O Mecha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Endometriosis has long been wrongly perceived to be rare among women of African descent. The misconception about the prevalence of endometriosis among African women has significantly contributed to long diagnostic delays, limited access to diagnosis and care, and a scarcity of research on the condition among African women. In this commentary, we highlight the prevalence of endometriosis among African women, the state of endometriosis care in Africa, and the gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. Based on the available data, the prevalence of endometriosis in Africa is likely higher than previously thought, with varying subtypes. There is a long diagnostic delay of endometriosis among African women. Additionally, endometriosis care in Africa from the general population and health practitioners is poor; this can be attributed to the high diagnostic cost, scarcity of trained specialists, as well as patients’ inability to express their symptoms due to societal taboos surrounding menstrual health. Public sensitization on endometriosis may help improve endometriosis diagnosis and care in Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:35:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eee6c946bd6e4fde88c6e42c3ac8602f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2633-8386 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:35:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Bioscientifica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproduction and Fertility |
| spelling | doaj.art-eee6c946bd6e4fde88c6e42c3ac8602f2022-12-22T04:26:00ZengBioscientificaReproduction and Fertility2633-83862022-09-0133C40C43https://doi.org/10.1530/RAF-22-0040Endometriosis among African womenEzekiel O Mecha0Joseph N Njagi1Roselydiah N Makunja2Charles O A Omwandho3Philippa T K Saunders4Andrew W Horne5Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaMarple Grove Gynecological Centre, Kerugoya, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Kirinyaga University, Kerugoya, KenyaEXPPECT Centre, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh Bioquarter, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKEXPPECT Centre, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh Bioquarter, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKEndometriosis has long been wrongly perceived to be rare among women of African descent. The misconception about the prevalence of endometriosis among African women has significantly contributed to long diagnostic delays, limited access to diagnosis and care, and a scarcity of research on the condition among African women. In this commentary, we highlight the prevalence of endometriosis among African women, the state of endometriosis care in Africa, and the gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. Based on the available data, the prevalence of endometriosis in Africa is likely higher than previously thought, with varying subtypes. There is a long diagnostic delay of endometriosis among African women. Additionally, endometriosis care in Africa from the general population and health practitioners is poor; this can be attributed to the high diagnostic cost, scarcity of trained specialists, as well as patients’ inability to express their symptoms due to societal taboos surrounding menstrual health. Public sensitization on endometriosis may help improve endometriosis diagnosis and care in Africa.https://raf.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/raf/3/3/RAF-22-0040.xmlendometriosisdiagnostic delayendometriosis careafrican women |
| spellingShingle | Ezekiel O Mecha Joseph N Njagi Roselydiah N Makunja Charles O A Omwandho Philippa T K Saunders Andrew W Horne Endometriosis among African women Reproduction and Fertility endometriosis diagnostic delay endometriosis care african women |
| title | Endometriosis among African women |
| title_full | Endometriosis among African women |
| title_fullStr | Endometriosis among African women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endometriosis among African women |
| title_short | Endometriosis among African women |
| title_sort | endometriosis among african women |
| topic | endometriosis diagnostic delay endometriosis care african women |
| url | https://raf.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/raf/3/3/RAF-22-0040.xml |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ezekielomecha endometriosisamongafricanwomen AT josephnnjagi endometriosisamongafricanwomen AT roselydiahnmakunja endometriosisamongafricanwomen AT charlesoaomwandho endometriosisamongafricanwomen AT philippatksaunders endometriosisamongafricanwomen AT andrewwhorne endometriosisamongafricanwomen |