In the first study, terminally ill patients in Uganda believe a "good death" occurs at home, in the absence of pain and other distressing symptoms, without stigma, and with adequate finances for the basic needs.
However, in reality, most terminally ill people experience financial hardship, says Ekiria Kikule of Hospice Africa.
In the second study, members of a WHO project to improve palliative care in Africa find that the greatest needs of terminally ill patients were for adequate pain relief, accessible and affordable drugs, and financial support.
Terminal illness often causes family financial crisis because of loss of income from both patient and family caregiver, write the authors.
Special emphasis should be given to home based palliative care provided by trained family and community caregivers to counteract the severe shortage of professional healthcare workers, they conclude.