Barriers to early presentation of breast cancer among women in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the factors that constitute barriers to early presentation among women with breast cancer in Ondo State,  Nigeria. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the surgical outpatient department of the University of Medical Sciences  Teaching Hospital complex, Akure over a period of three years between May 2018 and April 2021. A pre-tested interviewer administered  structured proforma and a medical record data extraction tool were used to address the objective of the study. Then, statistical analysis  done; bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were employed to analyze the association between dependent and independent  variables. The 225 patients studied had a mean age of 40.2 (SD = 10.80), and the peak age category was 35–42. The majority, 139 (89 %)  patients were delayed by more than 3 months after noticing symptoms; while only 17 (11%) patients sought attention within 3 months of  noticing symptoms of breast cancer. There was a significant association between patients’ delay and lack of social support (AOR = 8.12, 95  % CI 1.22–24.80, P = 0.002); (where P value <0.005 is significant). Delay presentation by patients with breast cancer is a very serious  health problem that needs to be addressed urgently in Ondo State, Nigeria. The delay was significantly associated with lack of social  support from close family members and health education programs regarding breast cancer should address social support, provide more information about the variability of breast cancer symptoms and encourage self-breast examination and clinical breast examination.