Breast Cancer Awareness and
Attitudes towards Prevention Strategies among Women Aged 18 Years and Above In the
Ndongo Community of Buea”.
Department: Nursing
No of Pages: 54
Project Code: NS5
References: Yes
Cost: 5,000XAF
Cameroonian
: $15 for International students
ABSTRACT
Background
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally
including Cameroon. Early diagnosis can improve prognosis and breast
self-examination (BSE) may be a cost effective way to achieve this. However,
timely access to diagnosis remains a challenge due to lack of specialized
facilities.
Most
patients presents with advanced stages of the disease making management
impossible. This leads to an increase in breast cancer-related mortality.
Little is known about knowledge and attitudes towards the prevention of breast
cancer screening in Ndongo-Buea.
This
cross-sectional survey study was conducted in accordance to assess the current
knowledge (awareness) and attitudes of women regarding breast cancer prevention
strategies in the Ndongo Community, Buea. The sample comprised of 100 females
aged 18 and older. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional survey study was
conducted in Ndongo, Buea South West Region of Cameroon. From and July 2017.
Result:
Data were collected using face-to-face interviews with a validated
questionnaire a structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from
100 study participants regarding breast cancer awareness (knowledge) and
practices. Data were analysed using (Excel 2016) software and descriptive
statistics were summarized in frequencies and percentages on pie and bar
charts.
One
hundred women were studied, a great majority of respondents have heard of
breast cancer; 71.5% knew the effects of breast cancer; 37.7% knew about the
signs and symptoms. The most frequently reported cause and risk factor of
breast cancer was alcohol intake (47%) and positive family history (15%) respectively.
The
participants (41%) have never heard of breast self-examination (BSE) as an
early detection method of breast cancer hence do not practice it. Conclusion:
Lack of knowledge on early signs and symptoms of breast cancer was reported as
the main challenge for breast cancer screening (73.8%). The frequently reported
source of information about this disease was television/radio programs (32%).
This
highlights the importance for continued awareness campaigns. Most of the women
have heard of breast cancer but they lack adequate knowledge on its risk
factors, causes, symptoms and effects. The majority of the women do not
practice BSE due to lack of knowledge. Efforts to improve women’s knowledge on
breast cancer is warranted.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
Breast
cancer is the most common cancer among women globally (Sehrawat et al., 2017;
Azubuike et al., 2013). In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with
breast cancer and 685000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, it was reported
that there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer
in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.
There
are more lost disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) by women to breast cancer
globally than any other type of cancer. Breast cancer occurs in every country
of the world in women at any age after puberty but with increasing rates in
later life (WHO, 2021). Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among
females in the United States.
Researchers
across the globe are working to find new and improved ways to prevent, detect,
and treat breast cancer. Each year in the United States, about 255000 cases of
breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2300 in men. About 42000 women
die each year from breast cancer .Black women have a higher rate of death from
cancer than white women (CDC, 2021).
The
high mortality rate attributed to breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is partly
due to lack of knowledge pertaining to risk factors, signs and symptoms such as
breast lump, increase in size of the breast and an ulcer on the breast, and
early detection methods among women as well as effects such as breast
amputation and death are causing these women to seek medical treatment at late
stages of the disease when it can no longer be reversed (Sehrawat et al., 2017;
Dandash and Al-Mohaimeed, 2007).
In
addition, patients, healthcare providers, and system-mediated barriers have
also been reported as reasons for late seeking of care among cancer patients
(Morse et al., 2014). For example, there are very few places with specialized
capacity for diagnosis of breast cancer as most of these cancer facilities and
diagnostic centres are available only in tertiary hospitals making the services
less accessible, especially in remote parts of the country.
To
prevent and control breast cancer, several measures have been taken by the WHO,
government health ministries, and non-government mental organizations (NGOs).
The present study is important as it will bring to light the current level of
knowledge on breast cancer among women in the Ndongo community of Buea.
It
will also help in promoting early detection and management of breast cancer in
these communities by helping both central and local government authorities and
NGOs in understanding where exactly to allocate resources in matters pertaining
to breast cancer awareness and practices among women especially in these
communities.
This
study aimed to describe the awareness, and attitudes towards prevention of
breast cancer among women aged 18 years and above in the Ndongo community of
Buea, South West Region of Cameroon.
1.2
Problem Statement
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. It is often characterized by a lack of early symptoms, which results in late detection of the disease. Detection at advanced stages of the decease implies the treatment is more difficult and uncertain. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally including Cameroon.
However,
timely access to diagnosis remains a challenge due to lack of specialized
facilities. Most patients presents with advanced stages of the disease making
management impossible. This leads to an increase in breast cancer-related
mortality. Like many other women in the developing world, the practice of
breast cancer screening among Cameroonian women is unsatisfactory (Nsagha et
al., 2012).
As
a result, many cases are diagnosed at advanced stages leading to poor out comes
including mortalities. An understanding of the awareness and predictors of breast
examination is an important first step that may guide the design of
interventions aimed at raising awareness across the general population. This
study aimed to explore the awareness, attitudes, towards preventive measures of
breast cancer among women in the Ndongo community.
1.3 Rationale
Breast
cancer (BC) is leading cancer among women in Cameroon accounting for 27% of all
cancers among women. Factors that make the policymakers and public health
system worried are raising incidence of breast cancer in Cameroon and more
importantly high death rates among breast cancer patients.
One
of the leading causes of high breast cancer deaths is lack of awareness and
screening leading to the late presentation at an advanced stage. Therefore, the
current research aimed to understand the knowledge of breast cancer and risk
factors among women in the Buea Health District.
1.5 Research Objectives
1.5.1 General Objective
- The general objective of this study is to assess the awareness and attitudes towards prevention of breast cancer among women aged 18 years and above in the Ndongo community.
1.5.2 Specific Objectives
- To find out the level of awareness of breast cancer among women 18 years and above living in Buea Health. Area.
- To assess the attitudes of women toward preventive measures for breast cancer
- To assess the knowledge of preventive measures
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