Ajayi I O, Adewole I F
Department of General Outpatient, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Afr J Med Med Sci. 2002 Dec;31(4):305-9.
Breast and cervical cancers are the two commonest malignancies among Nigerian women; where they constitute about 50% of female cancers. A total of 63 out of 82 family physicians from 4 out of the 6 health zones in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria completed a self-administered questionnaire to determine their knowledge and screening practices for breast and cervical cancers. Forty nine percent (49%) of family physicians perceived cancer as one of the serious health problem facing women in Nigeria. Although 93.7% of responding physicians have heard of breast cancer screening facilities and 96.8% of cervical screening facilities, only 74.6% and 55.6% of these respondents offered screening services for breast and cervical cancers respectively. Breast examination was carried out monthly by 48.9% of the physicians on their regular patients. A comprehensive programme of continuing medical education and training in view of setting up facilities and offering service are recommended for family physicians. These stand to bridge the gap between the knowledge and the practice of breast and cervical cancer screening activities. The umbrella Association for Family Physicians and other regulating bodies should facilitate access to screening facilities and initiate training of willing physicians with a view to setting up services.
乳腺癌和宫颈癌是尼日利亚女性中最常见的两种恶性肿瘤，约占女性癌症的50%。尼日利亚6个健康区中的4个以及联邦首都地区阿布贾的82名家庭医生中，共有63人完成了一份自我管理的调查问卷，以确定他们对乳腺癌和宫颈癌的知识及筛查实践情况。49%的家庭医生认为癌症是尼日利亚女性面临的严重健康问题之一。尽管93.7%的受访医生听说过乳腺癌筛查设施，96.8%的医生听说过宫颈癌筛查设施，但这些受访者中分别只有74.6%和55.6%提供乳腺癌和宫颈癌筛查服务。48.9%的医生每月对其常规患者进行乳房检查。建议为家庭医生开展继续医学教育和培训综合项目，以建立设施并提供服务。这有助于弥合乳腺癌和宫颈癌筛查活动的知识与实践之间的差距。家庭医生总协会及其他监管机构应促进获取筛查设施，并启动对有意愿的医生的培训，以期建立相关服务。
