Reducing the breast cancer menace: the role of the male partner in Ghana.

Evans Paul Kwame Ameade,Anthony Amalba,Mark Kojo Kumah,Theresa Kudjo,Baba Sulemana Mohammed

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.19.8115

Evans Paul Kwame Ameade, Anthony Amalba + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.19.8115

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Abstract

Breast cancer continues to be the most common type of cancer afflicting many women worldwide. Presently, educational campaigns and research target only women as if men have no role in the management of this disease. The study examined the willingness of male partners to assist in early female breast cancer detection as well as their awareness and knowledge levels. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, data was collected from 500 public servants within the Tamale Metropolis and analyzed in SPSS. The level of awareness of breast cancer was very high (98.8%) but there was a low level of knowledge of breast cancer among the male population. Marital status and religion had no effect on attitude, but increasing educational status significantly increased knowledge and positive attitude towards breast cancer examination (χ2=4.255, p=0.0391). The majority (92.0%) agreed that men can assist in early breast cancer detection and 96.2% were willing to be provided with breast examination skills. Although level of awareness on female breast cancers among the men was high, they generally lack knowledge of the disease. Majority of male partners want to assist in early breast cancer detection if provided with the necessary skills.

Highlights

Breast cancer continues to be the most common and lethal type of cancer afflicting many women worldwide, and it is reported to have claimed the lives of 460,000 out of the approximate 1.4 million diagnosed in 2008 with Africa being worst affected since 54.4% of the 68,000 women diagnosed lost their lives (Ferlay et al, 2010)
The study examined the willingness of male partners to assist in early female breast cancer detection as well as their awareness and knowledge levels
It is the first study that measured the attitude of men toward performing breast examination on their partners

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer continues to be the most common and lethal type of cancer afflicting many women worldwide, and it is reported to have claimed the lives of 460,000 out of the approximate 1.4 million diagnosed in 2008 with Africa being worst affected since 54.4% of the 68,000 women diagnosed lost their lives (Ferlay et al, 2010). In a Ghanaian study involving 19,423 women, 330 (1.7%) were histologically proven to have breast cancer, of which 248 patients (75.2%) had palpable breast lumps and most of them being in the age range 40-49 years should be either married or have male partner. This onset of diagnosis is quite close to that reported in Malaysia where the mean age was 50.6 years though breast cancer in a 15 year old was recorded in Iran (Ohene Yeboah and Adjei, 2012; Abdullah et al, 2013). The study examined the willingness of male partners to assist in early female breast cancer detection as well as their awareness and knowledge levels. Majority of male partners want to assist in early breast cancer detection if provided with the necessary skills

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