Editorial Expression of Concern: Addressing cancer care inequities in sub‑Saharan Africa: current challenges and proposed solutions

Editorial Expression of Concern to: Int J Equity Health 22, 189 (2023).

https://doiorg.publicaciones.saludcastillayleon.es/10.1186/s12939-023-01962-y

The Editors-in-Chief would like to inform the readers that following the publication of this article [1], concerns regarding incorrect statements, and discrepancies between statements in the published article & quoted references were raised (See below). During the investigation, the Publisher noted that the article has seen changes in authorship. The authors were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation of the raised concerns and documented proof of the contribution of added authors.

1) In the statement ‘Low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionate burden of the global cancer burden, accounting for approximately 400% and 168% respectively [2] ’.

2) Genetic mutations or inherited gene mutations account for approximately 5–10% of all cancers, with some cancers having a stronger genetic component, such as breast and ovarian cancer in individuals with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations [3].

3) Gender also plays a role in cancer risk. Breast and cervical cancers are more prevalent in women, while prostate and testicular cancers are more frequent in men.

4)The statement ‘However, Africans have a relatively fair chance of cancer risk, with both incidence and mortality rates being comparatively lower than other continents’ is contradictory as compared to Table 1.

The readers are therefore urged to take caution when interpreting the content of this article.

Author, Festus Adebayo Atiba did not respond to correspondence from the Publisher about this Editorial Express of Concern. All the remaining authors disagree with this Editorial Express of Concern.