Module 03: Nature and Etiology of Disease
Module 03: Discussion A+
Describe two major determinants of cancer care in Saudi Arabia. Which determinant do you think presents the biggest challenge to the overall health of the population and why?
Embed course material concepts, principles, and theories (which require supporting citations) in your initial response along with at least one scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article. Keep in mind that these scholarly references can be found in the Saudi Digital Library by conducting an advanced search specific to scholarly references. Use Saudi Electronic University academic writing standards and APA style guidelines.
Module 03: Nature and Etiology of Disease
Module 03: Discussion A+
Describe two major determinants of cancer care in Saudi Arabia. Which determinant do you think presents the biggest challenge to the overall health of the population and why?
Embed course material concepts, principles, and theories (which require supporting citations) in your initial response along with at least one scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article. Keep in mind that these scholarly references can be found in the Saudi Digital Library by conducting an advanced search specific to scholarly references. Use Saudi Electronic University academic writing standards and APA style guidelines.
There are two major determinants of cancer care in Saudi Arabia that present challenges to the overall health of the population: access to healthcare services and health behaviors/lifestyle factors.
Access to healthcare services is a significant determinant of cancer outcomes in Saudi Arabia. According to a study published in the International Journal for Equity in Health in 2018, there are substantial geographic disparities in the distribution of healthcare facilities and specialized oncology services across regions in Saudi Arabia (Almadi et al., 2018). Patients living outside major cities have reduced access to early cancer screening and evidence-based treatment options. Improving access by expanding healthcare infrastructure and services to underserved areas could help reduce cancer mortality rates in the country.
Health behaviors and lifestyle factors also strongly influence cancer risk and outcomes in Saudi Arabia. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, and obesity are highly prevalent risk factors for cancer in the Saudi population (Memish et al., 2014). A report from the Saudi Ministry of Health (2016) found that over 60% of Saudis are overweight or obese, which is linked to increased incidence of cancers like breast, colorectal, and kidney cancer. Unhealthy diets high in red meat and low in fruits and vegetables also elevate cancer risk. Modifying the population’s health behaviors through public health interventions could help lower cancer burden in the long run.
Of these two determinants, I believe access to healthcare services presents the biggest challenge because improving health behaviors and lifestyles may require significant cultural and societal changes over time. However, expanding access to basic cancer screening and treatment through strategic infrastructure development and resource allocation could more immediately help improve outcomes, especially for those living in remote or rural areas. Timely diagnosis and evidence-based care are critical to cancer survival (American Cancer Society, n.d.). Addressing accessibility barriers should be a high priority to enhance population health.
Almadi, M. A., Mosli, M. H., Bohlega, M. S., Al Essa, M. A., AlDohan, M. S., Alabdulkareem, I. A., … & Mandil, A. (2018). Effectiveness of cancer control efforts in Saudi Arabia. International journal for equity in health, 17(1), 1-11.
American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Cancer facts & figures 2023. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/cancer-facts-figures-2023.html
Memish, Z. A., El Bcheraoui, C., Tuffaha, M., Robinson, M., Daoud, F., Jaber, S., … & Al Saeedi, M. (2014). Obesity and associated factors—Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013. Preventing chronic disease, 11.
Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (2016). Annual statistical book. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/Statistics/book/Pages/default.aspx