Temporal Trend of Hospitalizations for Cancer Diagnosis in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric cancer is considered a rare pathology, but it requires long periods of treatment in an oncology specialty center. One of the main challenges for the families is the distancing from treatment and hospital support facilities for hospitalizations in pediatric oncology. Objective: To analyze the time trend per places of residence and hospitalization of children and adolescents for cancer diagnoses occurred between 1998 and 2018 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Method: Analytical documental epidemiological study, with collection of secondary data in a public domain database. The study is characterized as a historical series and spatial-geographical distribution of hospital admissions of children undergoing cancer treatment in Rio Grande do Sul. Results: Children under 4 years were the main demand for hospitalization for child and juvenile cancer diagnosis over the years. In about 80% of the health regions, patients end up admitted for cancer diagnosis out of their health regions and places of residence. In the last 20 years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of hospitalizations, which are still much concentrated in specialty centers. Conclusion: It is necessary the intervention of public policies and decentralization of specialized services for the treatment and hospitalization in pediatric oncology.