Stephen Onwere1, O Okoro, B Chigbu, A Onwere. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 7004, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. stephenonwere@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clinical breast examination (CBE) provides an important screening tool for the earlier detection of breast cancer among women in populations such as ours where mammography is not widely available as a screening tool. There is a paucity of data on the level of practice of antenatal CBE by health-care providers at Aba, South Eastern Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of practice of antenatal CBE by health-care providers as a method of early detection of breast cancer. METHOD: A descriptive study involving 100 consecutive and consenting patients at the antenatal clinic of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, South Eastern Nigeria over the period 1 June-15 June 2007 was carried out. Using a structured questionnaire, the respondents' socio-demographic data were obtained, as well as their knowledge of breast cancer and of what breast cancer examination screens for, and self-reported data on their having ever received CBE during the current antenatal period. RESULTS: The knowledge of breast cancer was poor. Although 99% of the women had heard of breast cancer, only 34% of them knew what breast examination screened for, whilst only 1 and 2% had received CBE by doctors and nurses, respectively, during the current antenatal period. No breast abnormalities or suspicious nodes were detected during the antenatal CBEs. CONCLUSION: The level of practice of routine antenatal CBE by health-care providers is very low in our setting. Health-care providers should perform a thorough breast examination at the first prenatal visit and maintain a high index of suspicion for breast cancer throughout pregnancy.
BACKGROUND: Clinical breast examination (CBE) provides an important screening tool for the earlier detection of breast cancer among women in populations such as ours where mammography is not widely available as a screening tool. There is a paucity of data on the level of practice of antenatal CBE by health-care providers at Aba, South Eastern Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of practice of antenatal CBE by health-care providers as a method of early detection of breast cancer. METHOD: A descriptive study involving 100 consecutive and consenting patients at the antenatal clinic of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, South Eastern Nigeria over the period 1 June-15 June 2007 was carried out. Using a structured questionnaire, the respondents' socio-demographic data were obtained, as well as their knowledge of breast cancer and of what breast cancer examination screens for, and self-reported data on their having ever received CBE during the current antenatal period. RESULTS: The knowledge of breast cancer was poor. Although 99% of the women had heard of breast cancer, only 34% of them knew what breast examination screened for, whilst only 1 and 2% had received CBE by doctors and nurses, respectively, during the current antenatal period. No breast abnormalities or suspicious nodes were detected during the antenatal CBEs. CONCLUSION: The level of practice of routine antenatal CBE by health-care providers is very low in our setting. Health-care providers should perform a thorough breast examination at the first prenatal visit and maintain a high index of suspicion for breast cancer throughout pregnancy.
Authors: Millicent O Obajimi; Ikeoluwapo O Ajayi; Abideen O Oluwasola; Babatunde O Adedokun; Adenike T Adeniji-Sofoluwe; Olushola A Mosuro; Titilola S Akingbola; Oku S Bassey; Eric Umeh; Temitope O Soyemi; Folasade Adegoke; Idiat Ogungbade; Chinwe Ukaigwe; Olufunmilayo I Olopade Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-01-16 Impact factor: 3.295