Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, 7 Ritson Rd, Durban 4001, South Africa.
Division of Research, Innovation and Engagement, Umlazi Campus, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi 4031, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Nov 1;20(21):7005. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20217005.
The incidence of breast cancer in South Africa is increasing, with rural South African women presenting with advanced stages of the disease. A woman's breasts are a symbol of her womanhood; they also constitute a social definition of her femininity. Women with breast cancer in rural South Africa are heavily stigmatized and suffer from various sociocultural interpretations of the disease. Breast cancer is frequently interpreted in rural South Africa as a symbol of witchcraft, sin, and punishment, and traditionally, it is treated by offering animal sacrifices, consumption of herbs, and prayer to ancestors. Using care-seeking behaviour theory as the theoretical framework, we intend to explore the sociocultural factors influencing breast cancer screening practices among rural South African women. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 22 rural South African women selected by purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study identified four sociocultural factors influencing women's practices of breast cancer screening in rural South Africa, including psychological factors, habits, beliefs, and perceptions of healthcare. Women in rural South African communities have deep-rooted traditional beliefs and practices regarding breast cancer. Consequently, this influences women's preventative health behaviours regarding breast cancer screening. The development of culturally appropriate health education programs involving traditional healers and influential community leaders is essential to increasing the number of women being screened for breast cancer in rural South Africa.
南非的乳腺癌发病率正在上升,农村地区的南非女性呈现出疾病晚期的特征。女性的乳房是其女性气质的象征;它们也是其女性气质的社会定义。农村南非的乳腺癌女性受到严重的污名化,并受到对疾病的各种社会文化解释的影响。乳腺癌在农村南非经常被解释为巫术、罪恶和惩罚的象征,传统上,它通过提供动物牺牲、草药的摄入以及向祖先祈祷来治疗。本研究旨在利用求医行为理论作为理论框架,探索影响农村南非妇女乳腺癌筛查实践的社会文化因素。我们采用半结构式访谈方法,通过目的性抽样选择了 22 名农村南非妇女进行定性探索性研究。使用主题分析对数据进行分析。研究确定了四个影响农村南非妇女乳腺癌筛查实践的社会文化因素,包括心理因素、习惯、信仰和对医疗保健的看法。农村南非社区的妇女对乳腺癌有着根深蒂固的传统信念和做法。因此,这影响了妇女对乳腺癌筛查的预防性健康行为。制定涉及传统治疗师和有影响力的社区领袖的文化上适当的健康教育计划对于增加农村南非进行乳腺癌筛查的妇女人数至关重要。