Mensah Adwoa Bemah Boamah, Mensah Kofi Boamah, Agbeko Anita Eseenam, Nakua Emmanuel Kwaku, Okyere Joshua, Anane Gloria, Baah Joseph Sakyi, Nones Madalyn, Horvath Keith J, Virnig Beth, Clegg-Lamptey Joe-Nat, Kulasingam Shalini
School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Health Expect. 2025 Oct;28(5):e70395. doi: 10.1111/hex.70395.
Breast cancer is a serious public health concern in Ghana. This study investigated the anticipated healthcare-seeking behaviour and preferences of women for possible breast cancer symptoms. Specifically, the study examined women's first point of contact as well as the timeliness of seeking healthcare for possible breast cancer symptoms.
This cross-sectional survey data involved 810 women in 14 rural communities in the Ashanti region, Ghana. The outcome variables were preferred first contact and timing for healthcare seeking. Descriptive analysis and two sets of binary logistic regression models were used.
The results indicate that 58.9% of the participants would first contact a medical doctor, whereas 41.1% would contact alternative sources (herbalist/traditional healer, fetish priest/faith healer and pastor/Man of God). Almost all respondents (95.6%) anticipated seeking care early. Women who anticipated contacting alternative sources (e.g., herbalists, pastors or family members) over medical doctors had 2.58 times higher odds of anticipating delays in their healthcare seeking (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.28-5.21). Compared to women in agricultural/farming, those who worked in civil/government/private sectors had 7.87 times higher odds of anticipated delays in seeking healthcare (AOR = 7.87, 95% CI: 2.11-29.40). Women with tertiary education had 92% lower odds of anticipated delays (AOR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.84). Additionally, women who based their healthcare decisions on advice from others had 66% lower odds of delaying healthcare seeking (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14-0.85).
Almost all women would seek healthcare early for possible breast cancer symptoms; however, a significant proportion anticipated contacting alternative/non-medical sources. There is a need to raise awareness among women about the importance of consulting a medical doctor for breast cancer symptoms to ensure timely and appropriate medical assessment and treatment. Addressing hurdles such as limited access to medical facilities and financial constraints can improve health-seeking preferences for breast cancer symptoms.
At the start of the project, a community-based project advisory board (CPAB) was set up. The CPAB included local government representatives from the Ghana Health Service (n = 1) and District Assembly (n = 4), traditional leaders (n = 3), public sector health services (health service providers and managers) (n = 4), community women representatives (n = 4), breast cancer survivor (n = 1) and breast health advocates (n = 2). In this study, the CPAB members assisted in gaining community access, recruiting local women as study recruitment links in each site and providing guidance on field work safety. The study results have been discussed with CPAB members and field workers in a series of project meetings.
Not applicable.
乳腺癌是加纳严重的公共卫生问题。本研究调查了女性在出现可能的乳腺癌症状时预期的就医行为和偏好。具体而言，该研究考察了女性的首个接触点以及出现可能的乳腺癌症状时寻求医疗服务的及时性。
这项横断面调查数据涉及加纳阿散蒂地区14个农村社区的810名女性。结果变量为首选的首次接触方式和寻求医疗服务的时间。采用描述性分析和两组二元逻辑回归模型。
结果表明，58.9%的参与者会首先联系医生，而41.1%的参与者会联系其他渠道（草药医生/传统治疗师、神汉/信仰治疗师以及牧师/神职人员）。几乎所有受访者（95.6%）预计会尽早寻求治疗。预期会联系其他渠道（如草药医生、牧师或家庭成员）而非医生的女性，其预期就医延迟的几率高出2.58倍（调整后比值比[AOR]=2.58，95%置信区间[CI]：1.28 - 5.21）。与从事农业/务农的女性相比，在民政/政府/私营部门工作的女性预期就医延迟的几率高出7.87倍（AOR = 7.87，95% CI：2.11 - 29.40）。接受过高等教育的女性预期延迟的几率低92%（AOR = 0.08，95% CI：0.01 - 0.84）。此外，基于他人建议做出医疗决策的女性延迟就医的几率低66%（AOR = 0.34，95% CI：0.14 -
