Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Breast Cancer Screening Among Women of Reproductive Age (15 – 49 years) in Abia State, Nigeria
Publication Date: 03/04/2021
Author(s): Dr. Elendu C. Onwuchekwa, Roseline O. Nwokoro, Dr. Uzochukwu G. Ekeleme, Dr. Alberta D. Nsemo.
Volume/Issue: Volume 1 , Issue 1 (2021)
Abstract:
Introduction: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women characterised by regional variation and late clinical presentation in low and middle-income countries including Nigeria. The present study was designed as a community-based cross-sectional study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitude and practices towards breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age (15 – 49 years) in Abia State. Methodology: Multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample the study participants. Eighteen communities were randomly selected from the three Senatorial Zones of Abia State and a total of 1176 women were studied, comprising 391 from Abia South, 393 from Abia Central and 391 from Abia North. A validated questionnaire was used to obtain information from the respondents who consented to the study. Data analysis was performed using descriptive technique and a Chi-square test was used to test for association in the data. Results: Only about half of the women (614: 52.2%) are aware of any breast cancer screening services. Only 26.7% showed good knowledge of signs and symptoms of breast cancer and 23.6% showed good Knowledge of Availability and Accessibility. Attitude is also a significant associating factor of uptake in this study (χ2=10.50, p=0.005) and those who showed a strong positive attitude were more likely to go for breast cancer screening uptake than any other group. On the other hand, 82.4% - 96.8% of the women that showed good knowledge of signs and symptoms of breast cancer and for availability or accessibility of the screening services had the uptake compared to only 4.3% obtained among the poor knowledge group. Though many were willing to be screened for breast cancer, those that expressed their readiness to be constantly going for breast cancer screening servicer were just 24.5%. Conclusion: Breast cancer screening is quite low among the study group possibly due to a low level of knowledge, poor attitude, and other associating factors. There is a need to adequately tackle these factors in order to achieve greater health free from breast cancer among women of reproductive age.
Keywords:
Cancer, Knowledge, Attitude, Screening, Reproductive Age, Awareness
