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. 2015 Nov 25;10(11):e0140904.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140904. eCollection 2015.

Knowledge and Beliefs of Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer among Market Women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Kelechi Elizabeth Oladimeji  1   2 , Joyce M Tsoka-Gwegweni  1 , Franklin C Igbodekwe  2 , Mary Twomey  3 , Christopher Akolo  4 , Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe  5 , Olayinka Atilola  2   6 , Oluwole Jegede  7 , Olanrewaju Oladimeji  1   2
Affiliations

Knowledge and Beliefs of Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer among Market Women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Kelechi Elizabeth Oladimeji et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: In most resource constrained settings like Nigeria, breast self-examination self-breast examination (BSE) is culturally acceptable, religious friendly and attracts no cost. Women's knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer and its management may contribute significantly to medical help-seeking behaviours. This study aimed to assess knowledge and beliefs of BSE among market women.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 market women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistical methods.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 34.6±9.3 years with 40% of the women aged between 30-39years. The proportion of married women was 339 (68.5%) with 425 (70.8%) respondents reporting that they do not know how to perform BSE. However, 372 (61.7%) women strongly agreed that BSE is a method of screening for breast cancer. Highest proportion 219 (36.3%) reported that the best time for a woman to perform BSE was 'anytime'. Most of the respondents believed breast cancer is a dangerous disease that kills fast and requires a lot of money for treatment.

Conclusion: More efforts are needed in creating awareness and advocacy campaigns in the grassroots in order to detect early breast cancer and enhance prevention strategies that would reduce the burden of breast cancer in Nigeria.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Venn diagram showing beliefs of market women about breast cancer.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Graph showing the likely referring points of care by the market women.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Publication types

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Center for Community Health Care, Research and Development, Nigeria (CCHARD), www.cchrad.org. Ms. Kelechi Elizabeth Oladimeji is currently a Public Health doctorate Scholar in College of Health Science, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Kelechi is also a co-lead at the Center for Community Health Care, Research and Development, Nigeria (cchrad.org). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.