Mammography and mammographic screening: are female patients at a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, aware of these procedures?

PURPOSE To determine the level of awareness of mammography and mammographic screening amongst women in Lagos, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS A structured questionnaire was administered to 555 consecutively recruited women who visited various clinics at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, between January 2009 and June 2009. RESULTS The mean age of respondents was 38.16 ± 9 years, and the majority (59.6%) had a tertiary education. A family history of breast cancer was present in 33 (6.0%) women, less than 20% of whom had undergone mammography. Only 20% of all subjects were aware of the recommendation that they should receive routine mammography and mammographic screenings on an annual or biannual basis, depending on their age, and of the side effects associated with the procedure. The mass media was women's main source of information regarding these procedures. The majority (67.6%) of participants confirmed that they performed breast self-examinations, though less than 5% of them had had their breasts examined by mammography. CONCLUSION This study revealed a rather low level of awareness about mammography and mammographic screening, indicating the need to educate women about the risk of breast cancer and the importance of screening as a tool for the early detection and treatment of this condition.