Psychosocial aspects of breast cancer treatement in Accra, Ghana

Clegg-Lamptey, J.N.A.; Dakubo, Jonathan C. B.; Attobra, Y.N.

doi:10.4314/eamj.v86i7.54152

Cited by 54 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Previous studies in both Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries showed that patients often seek traditional treatments for cancer [7, 8, 12], indicating widespread beliefs in the efficacy of herbal and spiritual treatments and the availability and accessibility of such practitioners. Moreover, several previous studies found that TMPs often cite cancer as one of the diseases they commonly see and treat among their patient populations [13, 21, 35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data from the Oncology Directorate at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana, indicate that 66 % of cervical cancer patients present at stage III and only 7 % present at stage I [6]. Use of alternative therapies often leads to delays in treatment and late-stage presentation, increasing the likelihood of poor survival [7, 8]. For example, about half of the women in a study about breast cancer treatments in Ghana used alternative treatments before and during hospital treatments, which often led to delays in the conventional treatment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, about half of the women in a study about breast cancer treatments in Ghana used alternative treatments before and during hospital treatments, which often led to delays in the conventional treatment. Furthermore, nearly 90 % of patients who stopped hospital treatment altogether pursued alternative therapies instead [7, 8]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TMPs are culturally accepted as medical practitioners throughout the country and play important psychosocial and perhaps also medical roles in conducting treatments not provided by allopathic medicine, due to the deficits in allopathic practitioners and/or distrust of conventional medicine or other factors [7, 8, 12, 13]. Due to their important cultural role, availability, and accessibility in Ghana, traditional healers are a vital part of the health care system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Traditional Herbalists and Cancer Management in Kumasi, Ghana

et al. 2012

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Cancer incidence rates are increasing in sub-Saharan Africa where traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) are involved in cancer management. Little is known about the specific role that TMPs play in cancer management in Ghana; we hypothesize that an understanding of the practices of TMPs with regard to cancer patients would help to enhance literacy about cancer amongst TMPs and would contribute to the diagnosis of cancer at earlier stages, by avoiding the detrimental delays while enlisting their help in certain activities that enhance cancer care. To elucidate the nature of the involvement of TMPs in cancer management, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 42 TMPs who practice in Kumasi, Ghana. The interviews elicited information about their knowledge and practices regarding cancer management and interactions with local hospitals. The results showed that TMPs tended to identify cancers as diseases of visible masses, fungating lesions, ulceration, and bleeding reflecting the advanced stages and types of cancers they usually encounter. TMPs identified certain causes of cancer and believed that they can treat and prevent cancer. These results indicate that TMPs are significant health service delivery resources in Ghana for patients potentially affected with cancer. Our work suggests that dedicated efforts to further integrate TMPs into the overall health care system would be beneficial to patients. Future research should examine the role of cancer education and training programs for TMPs to enhance their knowledge, strengthen their ability to complement allopathic practitioners, and increase early detection and treatment efforts through appropriate and timely referrals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Traditional Herbalists and Cancer Management in Kumasi, Ghana

et al. 2012

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“…Reasons for this delay include a lack of knowledge surrounding cancer diagnosis and treatment, fear of surgery, non-acceptance of hospital treatment and/or preferences for alternative care, and challenges to receiving treatment [59–61]. It has also been well documented that patients often delay timely attention to symptoms.…”

Section: Access To Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Breast cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities for prevention

Brinton

Figueroa

Awuah

et al. 2014

Breast Cancer Res Treat

177

183

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Purpose Although breast cancer is a growing health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, reasons for its increased occurrence remain unclear. Methods We reviewed published literature to determine the magnitude of the increase in breast cancer, associated risk factors (including for breast cancer subtypes), and ways to reduce incidence and mortality. Results Some of the increased breast cancer occurrence likely reflects that women are living longer and adopting lifestyles that favor higher incidence rates. However, a greater proportion of breast cancers occur among premenopausal women as compared to elsewhere, which may reflect unique risk factors. Breast cancers diagnosed among African women reportedly include a disproportionate number of poor prognosis tumors, including hormone receptor negative, triple negative and core basal phenotype tumors. However, it is unclear how lack of standardized methods for tissue collection, fixation and classification contribute to these rates. Given appropriate classifications, it will be of interest to compare rates with other populations and to identify risk factors that relate to specific tumor subtypes. This includes not only risk factors that have been recognized in other populations but some that may play unique roles among African women, such as genetic factors, microbiomata, xenoestrogens, hair relaxers and skin lighteners. Conclusions With limited opportunities for effective treatment, a focus is needed on identifying etiologic factors that may be amenable to intervention. It will also be essential to understand reasons why women delay seeking care after the onset of symptoms and for there to be educational campaigns about the importance of early detection.

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Evaluation of the impact of a breast cancer awareness program in rural Ghana: A cross‐sectional survey

Mena

Wiafe‐Addai

Sauvaget

et al. 2013

Intl Journal of Cancer

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Community awareness is crucial to early detection of breast cancer in low-and middle-income countries. In Ghana 60% of the cases are detected at late stages. Breast Care International (BCI) is a Ghanaian non-governmental organization dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. A cross-sectional survey was designed to assess the impact of BCI program on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) toward breast cancer among women from rural communities of Ghana. A total of 232 women were interviewed in June 2011 in the Ashanti region; of these 131 participants were from a community that received the BCI program in August 2010 (intervention group) and 101 from another community that received the program post-survey (referent group). Data analysis was performed using Epi-Info version 3.5.3. Knowledge about breast cancer among participants who received the program was better than among those who did not. Only 53.5% of participants from the referent group knew that breast cancer usually appears as painless breast lump when compared to 82.3% from the intervention group. Participants who attended the program were significantly more likely to obtain higher knowledge scores (odds ratio (OR) 5 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5 1.14-3.86) and to state practicing breast self-examination (OR 5 12.29, 95% CI 5 5.31-28.48). The BCI program improved KAP toward breast cancer. Further research is warranted to provide stronger evidence that the program improves breast cancer early detection.Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and first cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide with a world number of new cases estimated at 1,384,155 in 2008. 1

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Psychosocial aspects of breast cancer treatement in Accra, Ghana

Cited by 54 publications

References 10 publications

Traditional Herbalists and Cancer Management in Kumasi, Ghana

Traditional Herbalists and Cancer Management in Kumasi, Ghana

Breast cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities for prevention

Evaluation of the impact of a breast cancer awareness program in rural Ghana: A cross‐sectional survey

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