Insights from Conducting Community- and Health Facility-Based Cancer Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

This article reflects on the process of conducting community- and health facility-based research on cancer awareness and early diagnosis in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa, namely, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. We draw from two research projects: the African Women Awareness of CANcer project and the African aWAreness of CANcer and Early Diagnosis programme. Drawing on reflections from the project management team, field notes and minutes from team meetings, we describe key challenges and lessons learnt. Our results constellate around six core features of community-based and health facility-based research, namely, entry and access, sampling, geographical and infrastructural challenges, safety and security, overburdened and under-resourced health facilities, and contextual nuances. Conducting community- and facility-based health research in sub-Saharan Africa has context-specific challenges and opportunities which have an impact on the planning and conducting of such research. Doing rigorous research in sub-Saharan Africa requires locally relevant, collaborative, timely and creative solutions, and mutually beneficial community partnerships.