Sefonias Getachew1,2, Aragaw Tesfaw3, Mirgissa Kaba1, Andreas Wienke2, Lesley Taylor4, Eva J Kantelhardt2,5, Adamu Addissie6,7. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2. Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany. 3. Department Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia. 4. City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, Los Angeles, California, USA. 5. Department of Gynaecology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. adamuaddissie@gmail.com. 7. Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany. adamuaddissie@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis is a key determinant of breast cancer prognosis and survival. More than half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage in Ethiopia, and the barriers to early diagnosis in this country are not well understood. We aimed to identify the perceived barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer from the perspective of patients and health care providers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted from March to April 2018 using in-depth interviews of breast cancer patients and breast cancer health care providers from six public hospitals located in urban and rural areas of south and southwestern Ethiopia. All participants provided verbal consent before participating. A thematic analysis was performed using Open Code 4.02. RESULTS: Twelve breast cancer patients and thirteen health care providers were included in the study. Patient and health-system related barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer were identified. Patient-related barriers were lack of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer, belief in traditional medicine and religious practices for treatment, and lack of social and financial support to seek care at a medical facility. Health-system related barriers were misdiagnosis of breast cancer, long distance to referral facilities, high cost of diagnostic services, long waiting time for diagnostic tests, and lack of screening and diagnostic tests in local facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of breast cancer is affected by multiple barriers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Awareness campaigns and education about the disease, prevention, and early detection are needed to increase early diagnosis of breast cancer. Opportunities exist to improve early diagnosis and timely treatment in rural areas.
BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis is a key determinant of breast cancer prognosis and survival. More than half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage in Ethiopia, and the barriers to early diagnosis in this country are not well understood. We aimed to identify the perceived barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer from the perspective of patients and health care providers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted from March to April 2018 using in-depth interviews of breast cancerpatients and breast cancer health care providers from six public hospitals located in urban and rural areas of south and southwestern Ethiopia. All participants provided verbal consent before participating. A thematic analysis was performed using Open Code 4.02. RESULTS: Twelve breast cancerpatients and thirteen health care providers were included in the study. Patient and health-system related barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer were identified. Patient-related barriers were lack of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer, belief in traditional medicine and religious practices for treatment, and lack of social and financial support to seek care at a medical facility. Health-system related barriers were misdiagnosis of breast cancer, long distance to referral facilities, high cost of diagnostic services, long waiting time for diagnostic tests, and lack of screening and diagnostic tests in local facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of breast cancer is affected by multiple barriers in south and southwestern Ethiopia. Awareness campaigns and education about the disease, prevention, and early detection are needed to increase early diagnosis of breast cancer. Opportunities exist to improve early diagnosis and timely treatment in rural areas.
Entities:
Keywords:
Barriers; Breast cancer; Early diagnosis; Ethiopia
Authors: Jane Harries; Suzanne E Scott; Fiona M Walter; Amos D Mwaka; Jennifer Moodley Journal: BMC Womens Health Date: 2020-11-13 Impact factor: 2.809
Authors: Grace McCutchan; Bahr Weiss; Harriet Quinn-Scoggins; Anh Dao; Tom Downs; Yunfeng Deng; Ha Ho; Lam Trung; Jon Emery; Kate Brain Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2021-02