Mastectomy for Breast Cancer in Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Study of Barriers, Facilitators, and Patient Attitudes - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #mastectomy
- #Nigeria
- #breast-cancer
- Approximately half of Nigerian women with non-metastatic breast cancer undergo surgery, with psychosocial factors influencing mastectomy receipt being poorly understood.
- The study aimed to explore barriers, facilitators, and patient attitudes toward mastectomy in Nigeria using a mixed-methods approach (questionnaires and interviews).
- Median age of participants was 48 years, with a median tumor size of 6.6 cm. Only 44% underwent mastectomy, with 97% of these surgeries occurring within 1 year of diagnosis.
- Lack of awareness about breast cancer (19%) and mastectomy (37%) was prevalent among participants.
- Common reasons for not receiving surgery included cost (33%), loss to follow-up (16%), traditional medicine (10%), death (9.6%), and disease progression (7.2%).
- Awareness of mastectomy was significantly associated with higher likelihood of undergoing surgery within 1 year (OR 4.10).
- Negative emotions toward mastectomy were expressed by interview participants, including fear of surgery and concerns about body image and social impacts.
- Recommendations include public health education, pre-mastectomy counseling/peer-support, and financial assistance to improve mastectomy rates.