Cancer Pain Care in French-speaking African Countries and Access to Analgesics

The management and treatment of pain is a human rights issue, yet the barriers to providing access to optimal treatment are diverse and pervasive. While access to financial resources is often cited as a major barrier to access to medication for pain management, little research has been done on the cultural and emotional barriers that may hamper access and use in French-speaking countries in Africa. This is a significant gap as cultural behaviors and beliefs on pain and perceptions of opioid analgesics impact the development of public health policy and regulation, leading to prescriptive and restrictive policies, lack of access to education and skills training, and further entrenching of cultural beliefs. Overall, there is a dearth of research in this area, making recommendations for policy, regulation, aid, and support difficult. Further, the lack of comprehensive evidence provides a challenge for tracking and evaluating public health programs across the continent in a standardized manner and in accordance with international guidelines.