Elizabeth Meacham1, Jackson Orem2, Gertrude Nakigudde3, Jo Anne Zujewski4, Deepa Rao5. 1. Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. elizabeth.meacham@gmail.com. 2. Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda. 3. Uganda Women's Cancer Support Organization (UWOCASO), Kampala, Uganda. 4. National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA. 5. Department of Global Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of stigma in the delay of cancer service engagement by women with breast cancer in Kampala, Uganda. BACKGROUND: Women in Sub-Saharan African countries are twice as likely to die from cancer as women in high-income countries, which is largely attributable to late diagnosis. While breast cancer-related stigma has been identified in Sub-Saharan Africa, limited research focuses on how stigma impacts the behavior of breast cancer patients in Uganda. METHODS: This qualitative study used a grounded theory approach to examine illness narratives from 20 breast cancer survivors in Uganda, gathered through semistructured interviews. RESULTS: Thematic analysis showed that perceived and internalized stigma associated with breast cancer influenced care engagement throughout illness, delaying engagement and inhibiting treatment completion. Women identified key factors for overcoming stigma including acceptance of diagnosis, social support, and understanding of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: The growing burden of mortality associated with breast cancer in Uganda can be mitigated by improving early detection and treatment engagement through interventions which account for key psychosocial barriers such as stigma.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of stigma in the delay of cancer service engagement by women with breast cancer in Kampala, Uganda. BACKGROUND:Women in Sub-Saharan African countries are twice as likely to die from cancer as women in high-income countries, which is largely attributable to late diagnosis. While breast cancer-related stigma has been identified in Sub-Saharan Africa, limited research focuses on how stigma impacts the behavior of breast cancerpatients in Uganda. METHODS: This qualitative study used a grounded theory approach to examine illness narratives from 20 breast cancer survivors in Uganda, gathered through semistructured interviews. RESULTS: Thematic analysis showed that perceived and internalized stigma associated with breast cancer influenced care engagement throughout illness, delaying engagement and inhibiting treatment completion. Women identified key factors for overcoming stigma including acceptance of diagnosis, social support, and understanding of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: The growing burden of mortality associated with breast cancer in Uganda can be mitigated by improving early detection and treatment engagement through interventions which account for key psychosocial barriers such as stigma.
Authors: Caroline M Johnson; Yamile Molina; Magaly Blas; Mallory Erickson; Angela Bayer; Marina Chiappe Gutierrez; Paul E Nevin; Isaac Alva; Deepa Rao Journal: Health Care Women Int Date: 2018-02-02
Authors: John R Scheel; Mahbod J Giglou; Sophie Segel; Jackson Orem; Vivien Tsu; Moses Galukande; Jimmy Okello; Gertrude Nakigudde; Noleb Mugisha; Zeridah Muyinda; Benjamin O Anderson; Catherine Duggan Journal: Cancer Date: 2020-05-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: John R Scheel; Yamile Molina; Benjamin O Anderson; Donald L Patrick; Gertrude Nakigudde; Julie R Gralow; Constance D Lehman; Beti Thompson Journal: J Glob Oncol Date: 2017-07-17