Binka Charity, Doku David Teye, Awusabo-Asare Kofi
School of Public Service and Governance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana.
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
PLoS One. 2017 Oct 11;12(10):e0185829. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185829. eCollection 2017.
Even though cervical cancer is quite a prevalent disease in Ghana, there is hardly any study on this disease. This paper sought to explore the experiences of cervical cancer patients living with the disease with emphasis on their knowledge about the disease before and after the diagnosis. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with cervical cancer patients undergoing treatment in a specialised cancer treatment health facility in rural Ghana. Cervical cancer patients had inadequate knowledge about the disease, its symptoms, risk factors, treatment and prevention prior to being diagnosed of the disease. These patients were diagnosed late because they usually sought treatment elsewhere before reporting to health facilities. They experienced physical, psychological, economic and social disruptions in their daily lives, which affected their quality of life. It is evident that lack of knowledge about cervical cancer constitutes a threat to its prevention and treatment. Intensive health education through the mass media and community health promotion outreaches can be a sure way of creating adequate knowledge about cervical cancer in Ghana. Treatment and care for cervical cancer patients should incorporate counselling sessions, which should take into consideration the different levels of disruption the women experience and the implications for their wellbeing and management of the condition.
尽管宫颈癌在加纳是一种相当普遍的疾病，但几乎没有关于这种疾病的研究。本文旨在探讨宫颈癌患者在患病期间的经历，重点是她们在诊断前后对该疾病的了解。通过对加纳农村一家专门的癌症治疗医疗机构中正在接受治疗的宫颈癌患者进行深入访谈，收集了定性数据。宫颈癌患者在被诊断出疾病之前，对该疾病、其症状、风险因素、治疗和预防的了解不足。这些患者被诊断得很晚，因为他们通常在前往医疗机构就诊之前先在其他地方寻求治疗。他们在日常生活中经历了身体、心理、经济和社会方面的困扰，这影响了他们的生活质量。显然，对宫颈癌缺乏了解对其预防和治疗构成了威胁。通过大众媒体和社区健康促进活动进行强化健康教育，可能是在加纳创造足够的宫颈癌知识的可靠途径。对宫颈癌患者的治疗和护理应纳入咨询环节，这应考虑到女性所经历的不同程度的困扰以及对她们的健康和病情管理的影响。
