April 1999, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 20 - 24

Paper

Knowledge, belief and attitudes towards breast cancer in Southwestern Nigeria IO Ajayi & CA Adebamowo Departments of General Outpatients and Surgery, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria     Correspondence to: Dr. CA Adebamowo , Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. E-mail: E-mail: adebamowo@alpha.linkserve.com      1This stydy was partially suppported by the YiKe Foundation grant to CAA

Keywords

knowledge;   attitude;   practice;   breast cancer;   Nigeria

Abstract

The knowledge, attitude and practice towards breast cancer was studied in a cross-sectional survey of a suburban population of Western Nigeria. The study revealed that in this mainly low socioeconomic group living within the precincts of a major teaching hospital, only 41.4% of the respondents had seen or heard about breast cancer and few knew the features of early breast cancer. The major sources of information about breast cancer were the electronic media and the hospital. Knowledge about the risk factors for breast cancer and perception of risk was low. Most of the information available to these women about breast care had been obtained in the context of antenatal care at the primary health care setting and none were practicing breast self-examination according to the standard technique. The young, educated, married and pregnant women who think themselves able to locate breast lumps were more likely to examine their breast. The young women also tended to think that breast cancer is more common in the old, is curable when found early, and, worry about it. Those who perceive themselves at risk of getting breast cancer are also more likely to have a clinical breast examination. In conclusion, the primary health care setting is the most appropriate channel for the dissemination of information about breast awareness programs to this community.

^© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 1999