Knowledge and Beliefs of Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer among Market Women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundIn most resource constrained settings like Nigeria, breast self-examination self-breast examination (BSE) is culturally acceptable, religious friendly and attracts no cost. Women's knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer and its management may contribute significantly to medical help-seeking behaviours. This study aimed to assess knowledge and beliefs of BSE among market women.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 market women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistical methods.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 34.6±9.3 years with 40% of the women aged between 30-39years. The proportion of married women was 339 (68.5%) with 425 (70.8%) respondents reporting that they do not know how to perform BSE. However, 372 (61.7%) women strongly agreed that BSE is a method of screening for breast cancer. Highest proportion 219 (36.3%) reported that the best time for a woman to perform BSE was ‘anytime’. Most of the respondents believed breast cancer is a dangerous disease that kills fast and requires a lot of money for treatment.ConclusionMore efforts are needed in creating awareness and advocacy campaigns in the grassroots in order to detect early breast cancer and enhance prevention strategies that would reduce the burden of breast cancer in Nigeria.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of women towards breast cancer in the field practice area of urban health training centre, Aurangabad, Maharashtra

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“…(Patient 5) Use of traditional medicine and low level of breast cancer knowledge among breast cancer patients [17][18][19]23] have been reported in different studies from sub-Saharan Africa. Also, low breast cancer awareness among the general female population [24] and among female health care workers [25] were reported.…”

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“…Poor awareness has been the focus for control of breast cancer in Nigeria for more than 2 decades now. However, recent reports are suggesting the probable need to review our strategy in favor of other competing factors such as patient adherence and navigation (8,(13)(14)(15). In response to this suspected change in trend, our study was directed at describing the journey of a breast cancer patient from lump detection to arrival at a specialist clinic.…”