Abstract P5-13-02: The beliefs, knowledge, understanding, attitudes and treatment access to breast cancer amongst rural women in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Goal: The goal of this study is to ascertain the beliefs, knowledge, understanding, attitudes and treatment access to breast cancer among rural women in Nigeria. Background: Breast cancer has become a popular topic in recent years with several thousands of women diagnosed to be positive every year. The availability of care/treatment upon early detection is key to survival. Methods: An interview guide was designed specifically for this study in which 200 rural women in Northern Nigeria, age 45 and over took part in. It contained questions about beliefs, knowledge, understanding and attitudes about Breast Self-Examination (BSE), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) and mammogram. In addition, questions assessing the variables of the Health Belief Model and health motivations also were included. The data were obtained during face-to-face interviews in the primary language of the participating woman. The interviews were transcribed and translated into English. Results: Out of the 200 women who participated, only 1% two (2) of the participants practiced BSE monthly, 8% had undergone at least one CBE during their lives, and 91% had never had a mammogram. There were little or no access to treatment even at early detection in these rural areas causing thereby vulnerability to loss of life. Majority of these rural women (95%) said they knew little or nothing about breast cancer. While 15% of the women said detecting cancer early was important, only 3% reported that cancer could be cured. Age, education, or mother tongue showed no statistically significant relationship with the breast health practice scores. However, proficiency with the English language (p = 0.009) and number of years exposed to awareness and education (p = 0.009) had a significant relationship with the breast health practice scores. The significant explanatory factor for the variable breast health practices was a cue to action (p = 0.009). Conclusions: The level of awareness and treatment access to breast cancer amongst Northern Nigeria’s rural women is extremely low thereby making them not to engage in screening and/or detection practices. This alarming situation calls for urgent intervention of medical/health organizations to provide immediate breast cancer awareness, screening and care so as to reduce incidences or threat at early detection. Citation Format: Malcolm O Tagbarha. The beliefs, knowledge, understanding, attitudes and treatment access to breast cancer amongst rural women in Northern Nigeria [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-13-02.