Knowledge and Attitudes about Breast Cancer among Women: A Wake-Up Call in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.221Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude, Women, Breast cancer, NigeriaAbstract
BACKGROUND: Preventable deaths resulting from the scourge of breast cancer has become alarming and worrisome in many societies in developing countries, including Nigeria. Of much concern is the fact that breast cancer has continued to claim the precious lives of young, middle-aged, old, educated and non-educated women irrespective of their religion, socio-economic background and socio-demographic characteristics.
AIM: This study attempts to ascertain the knowledge and attitudes of women to breast cancer in Ogun State, Nigeria.
METHODS: The study adopts both primary and secondary data sources to examine the level of knowledge and attitude of women towards breast cancer with the view of suggesting probable solutions and recommendations for policy.
RESULTS: The result indicates that the awareness about breast cancer is overwhelming but only few women know about mammography; women in older age are 0.193 times less likely to attend breast cancer screening (p=0.000). Older women with secondary education that are either self-employed outside the home or full-time housewives are unfavourably disposed to breast cancer screening.
CONCLUSION: The authors recommend that concerned stakeholders in the health sector and policy decision makers should intensify action on cancer programmes and campaigns that could target older women especially housewives and women in middle level education.
Downloads
Metrics
Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block
References
Phaswana-Mafuya N, Peltzer K. Breast and cervical cancer screening prevalence and associated factors among women in the South African general population. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2018; 19(6):1465-1470.
Jemal A, Bray F, Forman D, O'brien M, Ferlay J, Center M, Parkin DM. Cancer burden in Africa and opportunities for prevention. Cancer. 2012; 118(18):4372-84. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.27410 PMid:22252462
Ogunsiji OO, Kwok C, Fan LC. Breast cancer screening practices of African migrant women in Australia: a descriptive cross-sectional study. BMC Women's Health, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-017-0384-0 PMid:28412942 PMCid:PMC5392914
Omotara B, Yahya S, Amodu M, Bimba J. Awareness, attitude andpractice of rural women regarding breast cancer in Northeast Nigeria. Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education. 2012; 2(5):1-4 pages. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0711.1000148
American Cancer Society Cancer facts and figures, 2009.
Siegel R, Ma J, Zou Z, Jemal A. Cancer statistics. A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2014; 64(1). https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21208 PMid:24399786
World Health Organization Fight against breast cancer: strategies that prevent, cure and care. International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2009.
Ogunbiyi JO, Fabowale AO, Ladipo AA. In Cancer incidence and top ten cancers in eleven local government areas in Ibadan, Nigeria and its environs, 2004-2008. Alofe Ibadan M (Nig.) enterprises. 2010:11-7.
Afolayan EAO. Cancer in North Western region of Nigeria - an update analysis of Zaria cancer registry data. Western Nig. Jour. of Med. Sci. 2008; 1:37-43
Afolayan EAO, Ibrahim OOK, Ayilara G, T. Cancer patterns in Ilorin: an analysis Of Ilorin cancer registry statistics. Trop. J. Health Sci. 2012; 19(1).
Etikan I, Alkassin R, Abubakar S. Statistical analysis on the reported cases of breast cancer. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal. 2016; 4(1). https://doi.org/10.15406/bbij.2016.04.00086
Dollinger M, Rosenbaum EH, Cable G. Everyone's guide to cancer therapy Kansas City, Mo.: Andrews and McMeel, 2012.
Isa A, Evren BH. Cancer incidence in Nigeria and border countries. Malays j med. 2016.
Ramathuba D, Ratshirumbi C, Mashamba TM. Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward breast cancer screening in a rural South African community. Curationis. 2015; 38(1):1172. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v38i1.1172 PMid:26017152 PMCid:PMC6091642
Shepherd JH, Mclnerney PA. Knowledge of breast cancer in women in Sierra Leone. Curationis. 2006; 29(3):70-77. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v29i3.1105 PMid:17131611
Dow MK, Yarbro CH. Cultural perspectives of international breast health and breast cancer education. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 2007; 39(2):105-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2007.00154.x PMid:17535309
Shepherd JH, Mclnerney PA. Knowledge of breast-self-examination in women in Sierra Leone. Curationis. 2007; 30(4):38-44. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v30i4.1115 PMid:18402419
Ajayi LA, Soyinka-Airewele P. Narratives of domestic violence survivors in Ghana and the United states. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences. Istanbul, Turkey, 15-17 October 2018.
Olasehinde O, Boutin-Foster C, Alatise OI, Adisa AO, Lawal OO, Akinkuolie AA, Adesunkanmi AR, Arije OO, Kingham TP. Developing a breast cancer screening program in Nigeria: evaluating current practices, perceptions, and possible barriers. Journal of global oncology. 2017; 3(5):490-6. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2016.007641 PMid:29094087 PMCid:PMC5646896
Akhigbe A, Akhigbe K. Effects of health belief and cancer fatalism on the practice of breast cancer screening among Nigerian women. InMammography-Recent Advances, 2012. https://doi.org/10.5772/31176
Amoo EO, Olawole-Isaac A, Okorie N, Ajayi MP, Adekola PO, Amana TR, Olu-Owolabi, F. Spousal desertion and coping strategies among women with cervical cancer in Nigeria: a schematic framework for wellbeing. African Population Studies. 2018; 32(1). http://aps.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1172
Amoo EO, Ajayi MP, Samuel GW, Adekeye OA, Odewale BJ. Sexual behaviour in Nigerian context, vulnerability to cervical cancer and health promotion. In Proceedings of SOCIOINT, 2017. 4th International Conference on Education, Social Sciences and Humanities Dubai, UAE, 2017.
Donato F, Bollani A, Spiazzi R, Soldo M, Pasquale L, Monarca S, Lucini L, Nardi G. Factors associated with non-participation of women in a breast cancer screening program in atown in northern Italy. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 1991; 45:59-64. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.45.1.59 PMid:2045747 PMCid:PMC1060703
Ahmed NU, Smith GL, Haber G, Belcon MC. Are women with functional limitations at high risk of under-utilization of mammography screening? Women's Health Issues. 2009; 19(1):79-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2008.09.001 PMid:19111790
Ojewusi A, Obembe T, Arulogun S, Olugbayela T. Breast cancer awareness, attitude and screening practices in Nigeria: A systematic review. Academic Journal of Clinical Opinions and Reviews. 2016; 7(2):11-25. https://doi.org/10.5897/CRO16.0101
Aniebue PN, Aniebue UU. Awareness of breast cancer and breast self-examination among female secondary school teachers in Enugu metropolis, south-eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences. 2008; 13(2):105-110.
Nasiru AI, Olumuyiwa OO. Knowledge of risk factors, beliefs and practices of female healthcare professionals towards breast cancer in a tertiary institution in Lagos, Nigeria. BMC Cancer. 2009; 9:76. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-9-76 PMid:19261179 PMCid:PMC2656542
Olajide TO, Ugburo AO, Habeebu MO, Lawal AO, Afolayan MO, Mofikoya MO. Awareness and practice of breast screening and its impact on early detection and presentation among breast cancer patients attending a clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2014; 17(6):802-7. https://doi.org/10.4103/1119-3077.144404 PMid:25385923
Adebamowo CA, Ajayi OO. Breast cancer in Nigeria. West Afr. J.Med. 1999; 19(3):179-191.
Allo TA, Edewor PA, Imhonopi, DA. Assessment of Perceived Risks of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Screening among Women in Five Selected Local Governments in Ogun State. SAGE Open. 2019. 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019841924
Lawal O, Murphy FJ, Hogg P, Irurhe N, Nightingale J. Mammography screening in Nigeria - A critical comparison to other countries. Radiography. 2015; 21(4):348-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.03.015
Olowokere AE, Onibokun AC, Oluwatosin A.O. Breast cancer knowledge and screening practices among women in selected ruralcommunities of Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology. 2012; 4(9):238-245. https://doi.org/10.5897/JPHE12.058
Allo TA, Edewor PA,. Imhonopi D. Knowledge, attitude and behavioural disposition of Nigerian women towards breast cancer. Presented at ADVED 2018, 4th International Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences.Istanbul, Turkey, 15-17 October, 2018.
Omidiji OA, Campbell, PC, Irurhe NK, Atalabi OM, Toyobo OO. Breast cancer screening in a resource poor country: ultrasound versus mammography. Ghana Med J. 2017; 51(1):6-12. https://doi.org/10.4314/gmj.v51i1.2 PMid:28959066 PMCid:PMC5611948
Alatise OI, Schrauzer GN. Lead Exposure: A contributing cause of the current breast cancer epidemic in Nigerian women. Biol Trace Elem Res 2010; 136:127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8608-2 PMid:20195925 PMCid:PMC2883097
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2019 Tayo O. George, Tolulope Abiola Allo, Emmanuel O. Amoo, Olawale Olonade
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0