How do reproductive age women perceive breast cancer screening in Ethiopia? A qualitative study

• Published in: African health sciences 2019-12, Vol.19 (4), p.3009-3017
• Main Authors: Agide, Feleke Doyore, Garmaroudi, Gholamreza, Sadeghi, Roya, Shakibazadeh, Elham, Yaseri, Mehdi, Koricha, Zewdie Birhanu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Early Detection of Cancer - psychology; Early Detection of Cancer - statistics & numerical data; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Mass Screening - psychology; Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Qualitative Research; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v19i4.22

Breast cancer remains one of the deadliest non-communicable diseases in the world. In Ethiopia, breast cancer accounts for 33.4% of total cancer diagnosis in women. This study aims to explore perception about breast screening behavior among reproductive age women. This qualitative study was conducted as a baseline to identify gaps to design interventions that will enhance breast screening uptake among reproductive age women. Six focus group discussions and 9 in-depth interviews were conducted with women and health workers respectively. Semi-structured questions were used. Data analysis was analyzed by Atlas.ti. 7 and the ideas were put in direct quotation and narration. Lack of awareness is the preceding problem for self-susceptibility to breast cancer as well as for having breast screening. Majority of women thought that the cause of breast cancer was a sin (supernatural power). Self-efficacy and cues to action were the most important correlates of the perception owing to fear of socio-cultural stigma and discrimination. All health belief model constructs identified a critical problem for adaptation of behavior. Therefore, this gives the opportunity to design and develop community-based intervention and explore new intervention mechanism with an accurate method.