Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Background Limited disease awareness among women may impact breast cancer stage-at-diagnosis in Tanzania, reducing survival. This study assessed breast cancer knowledge, screening practices, and educational preferences among outpatients at Tanzanian government-supported hospitals. Methods A convenie...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4137/BCBCR.S13745 |
| _version_ | 1817980201655599104 |
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| author | Emma Perry Morse Bertha Maegga Gertrud Joseph Susan Miesfeldt |
| author_facet | Emma Perry Morse Bertha Maegga Gertrud Joseph Susan Miesfeldt |
| author_sort | Emma Perry Morse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Limited disease awareness among women may impact breast cancer stage-at-diagnosis in Tanzania, reducing survival. This study assessed breast cancer knowledge, screening practices, and educational preferences among outpatients at Tanzanian government-supported hospitals. Methods A convenience sample of women was surveyed regarding (1) knowledge/beliefs of breast cancer etiology, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, (2) early detection knowledge/practice, and (3) educational preferences. Results Among 225 respondents, 98.2% knew of breast cancer; 22.2% knew someone affected by breast cancer. On average, 30% of risk factors and 51% of symptoms were identified. Most accepted one or more breast cancer myths. Among 126 aware of breast self-exam, 40% did not practice it; only 0.9% underwent regular clinical breast examinations despite 68% being aware of the procedure. Among treatments, 87% recognized surgery, 70% radiation, and fewer systemic therapy. Preferred educational sources were group sessions, television/radio, and meetings with breast cancer survivors. Conclusions This work reveals incomplete breast cancer awareness among Tanzanian women and promises to inform development of user-focused educational resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:51:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b867db866b2247b0a2120f1be291edc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2234 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:51:28Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-b867db866b2247b0a2120f1be291edc52022-12-22T02:26:11ZengSAGE PublishingBreast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research1178-22342014-01-01810.4137/BCBCR.S13745Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaEmma Perry Morse0Bertha Maegga1Gertrud Joseph2Susan Miesfeldt3Pathfinder International, Watertown, MA, USA.Tanzania Public Health Association, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Medical Oncology, Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute, Scarborough, ME, USA.Background Limited disease awareness among women may impact breast cancer stage-at-diagnosis in Tanzania, reducing survival. This study assessed breast cancer knowledge, screening practices, and educational preferences among outpatients at Tanzanian government-supported hospitals. Methods A convenience sample of women was surveyed regarding (1) knowledge/beliefs of breast cancer etiology, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, (2) early detection knowledge/practice, and (3) educational preferences. Results Among 225 respondents, 98.2% knew of breast cancer; 22.2% knew someone affected by breast cancer. On average, 30% of risk factors and 51% of symptoms were identified. Most accepted one or more breast cancer myths. Among 126 aware of breast self-exam, 40% did not practice it; only 0.9% underwent regular clinical breast examinations despite 68% being aware of the procedure. Among treatments, 87% recognized surgery, 70% radiation, and fewer systemic therapy. Preferred educational sources were group sessions, television/radio, and meetings with breast cancer survivors. Conclusions This work reveals incomplete breast cancer awareness among Tanzanian women and promises to inform development of user-focused educational resources.https://doi.org/10.4137/BCBCR.S13745 |
| spellingShingle | Emma Perry Morse Bertha Maegga Gertrud Joseph Susan Miesfeldt Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research |
| title | Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_full | Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_short | Breast Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, and Screening Practices among Women Seeking Care at District Hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| title_sort | breast cancer knowledge beliefs and screening practices among women seeking care at district hospitals in dar es salaam tanzania |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4137/BCBCR.S13745 |
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