Cancer in an African Community, 1897-1956
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Retrospective historical case series / hospital record review
OpenAlex W2077204309 · doi:10.1136/bmj.1.5378.259
What was done
Historical hospital and medical records from Uganda spanning 1897 to 1956 were reviewed to assess cancer site and type distributions over time and evaluate whether patterns changed under Western modernization.
What was found
The abstract provides no numerical data, case counts, or statistical results; the text ends mid-sentence while discussing background literature.
Why it matters
It provides historical context on cancer epidemiology in East Africa and addresses early 20th-century debates regarding cancer occurrence in non-Western populations.
Limits
The abstract is truncated and reports no sample sizes, diagnostic methods, or quantitative findings. Historical records from 1897–1956 have inherent limitations including ascertainment bias, diagnostic inaccuracies, and referral bias.
Cited by
- context Albert Schweitzer documented that indigenous tribes following traditional diets and lifestyles did not exhibit modern chronic diseases.