WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Omeaku Anulika Maris*, Ozims Stanley James, Prosper Obunikem Adogu and Eberendu Izuchukwu Francis

ABSTRACT

Background: Early detection and treatment of breast cancer are considered the most promising approaches to reducing breast cancer mortality rates. Aim: In response to the calls for a collaborative effort to halt the cancer scourge by WHO experts on the eve of World Cancer Day, 2021; and Nigerian government; this study aimed to increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in communities of Imo State, south-eastern Nigeria, using available resources. Methods: A 6-month community-based interventional study was conducted among 780 randomly selected women aged 18years and above, resident in the communities of study. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and baseline practice of breast cancer screening. The communities were subsequently split randomly into comparison and intervention groups. Education on breast health awareness and breast cancer screening were given to women in both groups alongside Clinical Breast Examination (CBE). Reminders and additional monthly sensitization activities collaborating with breast cancer survivors, were conducted in the intervention communities. Uptake of screening and knowledge gain were the outcome measures. The socio-demographic characteristics was summarized using descriptive statistics. Continuous variables were summarized using mean, median, mode, range and standard deviation. Percentages and frequencies were calculated for the categorical variables. Chy-square and logistic regression were used to determine differences in breast cancer screening uptake in the intervention and comparison communities post study. Independent T-test was used to compare recall scores for knowledge gain, post-study in the intervention and comparison groups. Data analyses was performed using IBM SPSS Version 20. Result: Sociodemographic characteristics of the participants in both interventional and comparison groups were comparable with slight differences in proportion. The proportion of women in the intervention and comparison groups who took up breast cancer screening at follow-up showed significant improvement on the baseline screening practice, likewise between participants in the intervention and comparison groups (P= 0.000). The Recall scores which assessed knowledge gain, showed significant increase among participants in the intervention group (P= 0.000). Conclusion: There was significant improvement in all the outcome measures among participants in the intervention group. For early detection, improved breast health and concerted fight against the ravaging breast cancer scourge, screening opportunities need be increasingly available; with more education efforts to improve knowledge and uptake.

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