HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND PRESENTATION OF BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN VISITING THE CAPE COAST TEACHING HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT Breast cancer has been identified as a leading malignancy and one of the most common causes of hospital admission among women. According to hospital records at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital most women visiting the breast clinic delay their presentation of breast cancer symptoms. This study therefore examined the health seeking behaviour and late presentation among patients with breast cancer visiting the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. A descriptive quantitative study was employed. Convenient sampling method was used with the inclusion criteria of women who had been diagnosed with self-detected cancer or cancer detected through mammogram or clinical breast examination with stage II to stage IV breast cancer. A questionnaire was used to assess the demographics characteristics, barriers to seeking early care for breast symptoms, factors influencing health seeking behaviour, and breast cancer related knowledge. Health records of respondents were also used to assess the date of presentation at the clinic, and the duration of symptoms. The questionnaire was found to have adequate reliability with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.0839. The study found that the respondents had poor health-seeking behaviour. Delayed presentation of breast cancer was found not to be associated with educational level, income, marital status nor religion. However it was associated (X2 =11.411: p=0.044) with older age. The study concluded that the willingness of women to screen for breast cancer influences time of presentation. The study therefore recommended that education is required for the relatively older women on breast cancer to avoid delayed presentation.