Maternal perceptions of paediatric cancer and diabetes in Cameroon

Abstract Background Maternal perceptions of paediatric cancer and diabetes are still poorly studied in Cameroon, while they are considered as an inevitable part of the chronic diseases. Little is known to what maternal representations of paediatric cancer or diabetes refer to. Their contents remain unknown; and they are rarely taken into account in training programs for health care providers and educators. Yet, when ignored, they can have consequences impacting the relational dimension of care, prevention of relapses, disease complications, health education and behaviour change. Methods Based on a critique of the psychosocial conceptual models used in prevention, this study combines a qualitative approach aimed at identifying and describing mothers’ perceptions about paediatric cancer and diabetes, transforming them into educational content that can be reused for the training of health care providers and educators; and a quantitative component, obtaining their impact on the therapeutic relationship and therapeutic compliance. Results The results show that caregivers (healers, physicians), children, mothers and their close family are involved in the relational component of care; the Cameroonian mother expects that the therapist consulted should be a psycho-oncologist or a psycho-diabetologist, who can (power) and knows (knowdlege). Maternal perceptions determine the techno-therapeutic dimension, and may, if ignored, threaten therapeutic adherence, leading to abandonment. Conclusions This study suggests integrating maternal perceptions of cancer and diabetes with the messages used to elaborate languages for health education and caregiver training, to associate the healers to the early screening of cancer and diabetes, and to their educational, preventive and therapeutic care. Also suggested by this research is consideration of the relational dimension as a care service, and maternal perceptions as an illness that will need to be treated like cancer and diabetes. Key messages Associate the healers to the early screening of cancer and diabetes, and to their educational, preventive and therapeutic care. Considering relational dimension as a care service, and maternal perceptions as an illness that will need to be treated like cancer and diabetes.