Practice of opportunistic breast cancer screening and health education among healthcare workers in public health facilities in Ogun state, Southwest Nigeria: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators.

BACKGROUND

Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Nigeria has the highest age-standardized breast cancer mortality rates in Africa, at 25.5 per 100,000. In the absence of organised breast cancer screening, opportunistic screening and health education during maternal health visits provide a crucial avenue for early detection and awareness. This study assessed the practices, barriers and facilitators of opportunistic breast cancer screening and health education among health workers in public health facilities in Ogun State, Nigeria.

METHODS

This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 43 healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, and community health extension workers) across primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities.

RESULTS

Across all levels of healthcare, health education on breast cancer is sometimes done during group health education sessions at antenatal clinics, postnatal clinics, infant immunization clinics and family planning clinics. In some health facilities, breast cancer health education is rarely done except when women complain of breast symptoms. Health education on breast cancer prevention focuses more on breastfeeding to prevent breast cancer, and self breast examination. No health worker mentioned advising women on yearly clinical breast examinations (CBE). Some health workers routinely perform CBE during antenatal visits, postnatal visits and family planning visits; some only do so when women have breast symptoms and others rarely do. The major facilitator to breast cancer screening and health education was health workers passion that women should not suffer from preventable cancers. Barriers to breast cancer screening and health education include manpower shortages, lack of facilities for screening in secondary facilities, geographic barriers, women's ignorance, cultural/religious beliefs.

CONCLUSION

Integrating opportunistic breast cancer screening and health education into routine maternal health services can bridge critical gaps in early detection. Strengthening health system infrastructure, workforce capacity, and public awareness is essential to improving breast cancer screening uptake in Nigeria.