Ofosuhene Richard, Effah Alfred, Sam-Awortwi Wilfred, Boamah Richmond Adu Boahen, Akosah Patricia, Obirikorang Christian
School of Anesthesia, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2025 Sep;8(9):e70347. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.70347.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide; early detection improves prognosis while reducing mortality and morbidity.
This study evaluates awareness, knowledge, and health-seeking behaviors related to breast cancer among women attending Bibiani Municipal Hospital in Ghana, where data on awareness is scarce.
This cross-sectional study involved 160 women attending the Bibiani Municipal Hospital. Validated questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness and knowledge of breast cancer, breast self-examination (BSE), and health-seeking behaviors. Categorical variables were presented as frequency and percentages. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of adequate knowledge of breast cancer. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26.0) and GraphPad Prism (version 8.0). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most participants were within 36-50 years (47.5%) and had no formal education (30.6%). Only 14.4% reported a family history of breast cancer. The majority (87.5%) were aware of breast cancer. However, only about 44% and 46% exhibited adequate knowledge regarding the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of breast cancer. The majority identified obesity (87.5%) and family history (80.6%) of breast cancer as risk factors, while most participants also identified a lump (68.1%) and pain (60%) in the breast as signs and symptoms. Education, employment status, age, and awareness of breast cancer were significantly associated with knowledge of breast cancer (p < 0.05). Only 47.5% were familiar with BSE, and BSE was performed by just 35.5% of participants. The majority (74.4%) indicated they would seek immediate help for a breast lump.
Despite high awareness of breast cancer, knowledge of its risk factors and the signs and symptoms was lacking, with over half unaware of breast self-examination (BSE). Health education campaigns by women-friendly organizations are crucial to improving awareness of symptoms, risk factors, and BSE in the Bibiani municipality.
乳腺癌是全球女性中最常见的癌症；早期检测可改善预后，同时降低死亡率和发病率。
本研究评估了加纳比比亚尼市立医院就诊女性中与乳腺癌相关的意识、知识和就医行为，该地关于意识的数据匮乏。
这项横断面研究纳入了160名在比比亚尼市立医院就诊的女性。使用经过验证的问卷收集社会人口学特征、乳腺癌意识和知识、乳房自我检查（BSE）以及就医行为的数据。分类变量以频率和百分比呈现。采用逻辑回归确定乳腺癌知识充足的独立预测因素。使用SPSS（版本26.0）和GraphPad Prism（版本8.0）进行统计分析。p < 0.05被认为具有统计学意义。大多数参与者年龄在36 - 50岁之间（47.5%），且未接受过正规教育（30.6%）。只有14.4%的人报告有乳腺癌家族史。大多数（87.5%）知晓乳腺癌。然而，只有约44%和46%的人对乳腺癌的危险因素、体征和症状有足够的了解。大多数人将肥胖（87.5%）和乳腺癌家族史（80.6%）确定为危险因素，而大多数参与者也将乳房肿块（68.1%）和疼痛（60%）确定为体征和症状。教育程度、就业状况、年龄和乳腺癌意识与乳腺癌知识显著相关（p < 0.05）。只有47.5%的人熟悉乳房自我检查，只有35.5%的参与者进行过乳房自我检查。大多数（74.4%）表示她们会因乳房肿块立即寻求帮助。
尽管对乳腺癌的知晓率较高，但对其危险因素以及体征和症状的了解不足，超过一半的人不知道乳房自我检查（BSE）。女性友好组织开展的健康教育活动对于提高比比亚尼市居民对症状、危险因素和乳房自我检查的认识至关重要。
