AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, ZARIA, NIGERIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Main Article Content
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a major global public health challenge, with annual incidence projected to exceed three million cases worldwide. In Nigeria, delay in health-seeking behavior for breast cancer is common and is largely associated with poor awareness and negative perceptions of the disease, leading to poor prognosis and increased mortality. This study assessed awareness, perception, and their influence on health-seeking behavior among women diagnosed with breast cancer attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. The study population comprised 115 women diagnosed with breast cancer attending the oncology unit of the hospital. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique, while the hospital, oncology clinic and ward were purposively selected. Only consenting breast cancer patients were recruited for the study. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire containing 26 items in three sections. The instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.76. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 and summarized using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that 55.0% of respondents had good awareness of breast cancer, while 70.5% demonstrated positive perceptions toward the breast cancer and its management. The findings further shows that increased awareness and perception may contribute to better health-seeking behaviors, and adherence to recommended treatment. Government-led awareness campaigns through radio, television, social media, and local languages are recommended to sustain awareness and positive perceptions. Collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, professional bodies, religious institutions, community leaders, and healthcare providers is necessary to strengthen breast cancer control interventions and promote early detection, prompt treatment, and improved patient outcomes.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Agodirin, O., Olatoke, S., Rahman, G., Kolawole, O., Oguntola, S., Olasehinde, O., Ayandipo, O., Olaogun, J., Katung, A., and Etonyeaku, A. (2021). Determinants of late detection and advanced-stage diagnosis of breast cancer in Nigeria. PLOS ONE, 16(11), e0256847. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256847
Agodirin, O. S., Olatoke, S. A., Rahman, G. A., and Adegoke, K. K. (2017). Level of awareness and knowledge of breast cancer in Nigeria: A systematic review. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 27(2), 163–174. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v27i2.9
Awogbayila, M., Onasoga, O., Jibril, U. et al. Assessment of breast cancer risk perception, knowledge, and breast self-examination practices among market women in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. BMC Women's Health 23, 556 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02711-7
Azubuike, S.O., Muirhead, C., Hayes, L. et al. Rising global burden of breast cancer: the case of sub-Saharan Africa (with emphasis on Nigeria) and implications for regional development: a review. World J Surg Onc 16, 63 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-018-1345-2
Bray, F., Laversanne, M., Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Soerjomataram, I., and Jemal, A. (2024). Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 74(3), 229–263. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21834
Chigbu, C. O., Onyebuchi, A. K., and Onyeka, T. C. (2017). The impact of community health educators on uptake of cervical and breast cancer prevention services in Nigeria: A before-and-after study. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 139(3), 329–334. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12310
Fatiregun, O. A., Oluokun, T., Lasebikan, N. N., Nwachukwu, E., Ibraheem, A. A., and Olopade, O. I. (2021). Breast cancer research to support evidence-based medicine in Nigeria: A review of the literature. JCO Global Oncology, 7, 384–390. https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.20.00541
Funga, M. L., and Dilebo, Z. D. (2022). Assessing breast cancer awareness among reproductive-age women in West Badewacho Woreda, Hadiyya Zone, South Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 17(7), e0270248. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270248
Hindmarch, S., Gorman, L., Hawkes, R. E., Howell, S. J., and French, D. P. (2023). "I don't know what I'm feeling for": Young women's beliefs about breast cancer risk and experiences of breast awareness. BMC Women's Health, 23(1), 312. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02441-w
Iddrisu, M., Aziato, L., and Clegg-Lamptey, J. N. A. (2020). Psychosocial experiences of women living with breast cancer in Ghana: A qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02611-4
Jedy-Agba, E., McCormack, V., Adebamowo, C., and Dos-Santos-Silva, I. (2016). Stage at diagnosis of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health, 4(12), e923–e935. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(16)30259-5
Kugbey, N., Oppong Asante, K., and Meyer-Weitz, A. (2020). Illness perception and coping among women living with breast cancer in Ghana: An exploratory qualitative study. BMJ Open, 10(7), e033019. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033019
Mossa, K. A. (2022). Perceptions and knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination among young adult women in southwest Ethiopia: Application of the Health Belief Model. PLOS ONE, 17(9), e0274935. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274935
Oladimeji, K. E., Tsoka-Gwegweni, J. M., Igbodekwe, F. C., Twomey, M., Akolo, C., Balarabe, H. S., Atilola, O., Jegede, O., and Oladimeji, O. (2015). Knowledge and beliefs of breast self-examination and breast cancer among market women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. PLOS ONE, 10(11), e0140904. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0140904
Osei-Afriyie, S., Addae, A. K., Oppong, S., Amu, H., Ampofo, E., and Osei, E. (2021). Breast cancer awareness, risk factors and screening practices among female undergraduate students in Ghana. PLOS ONE, 16(10), e0253371. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253371
Shimels, T., Billal, A. I., Fentie, A. M., Fenta, T. G., and Gebre-Mariam, T. (2025). Perception, Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitude (PAKA) Towards Breast Cancer in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 16, 21501319251396797. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251396797
Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Laversanne, M., Soerjomataram, I., Jemal, A., and Bray, F. (2021). Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71(3), 209–249. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660
Wendimu, D. E., Degefa, M. B., Achalu, D. L., Mamo, B. T., Daba, D. B., and Meshesha, S. G. (2024). Timeliness of breast cancer patients' presentation to health care facilities in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JCO Global Oncology, 10, e2400263. https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00263
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper and Row.