The study in Uganda
Methods: An exploratory qualitative design was employed, using five key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions conducted among healthcare professionals and community members in Arua and Mbarara health regions. [9]
Participants were purposively selected based on their involvement in breast cancer care or residence in the study areas. [9]
Despite these ongoing efforts, 70%–80% of breast cancer cases in Uganda continue to be diagnosed at advanced stages, with 5-year survival rates as low as 20% [17, 18]. [9]
Awareness and access
Attitudes and health-seeking behaviours toward breast cancer were influenced by individual, community and health system factors. Individual factors included knowledge and awareness about breast cancer, detection of breast abnormalities and sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education and childbirth history. Exposure to breast cancer survivors and perceived personal risk also motivated health-seeking behaviour. [9]
Community-level influences included fear generated by witnessing others suffer or recover from breast cancer. Participants emphasised that awareness campaigns and access to trained health workers were key facilitators for early screening, while lack of knowledge and misconceptions hindered timely health-seeking. [9]
Findings highlight that limited breast cancer awareness, misconceptions and sociodemographic disparities significantly affect women’s health-seeking behaviours for breast cancer in Uganda. [9]
Exposure to breast cancer survivors and targeted health education were found to positively influence screening uptake. [9]
Where to find care
While diagnostic and treatment options for breast cancer exist in Uganda, access remains unevenly distributed, skewed to the capital city, Kampala. [9]
However, these services remain concentrated in the capital city and the two new regional cancer centres and a few private hospitals, with radiotherapy being available only at UCI-Kampala. [9]
Geographical accessibility and the presence of trained healthcare workers were found to be strong motivators for seeking breast cancer services. Women living near health facilities or connected to healthcare providers were more likely to undergo screening than those in remote areas. [9]
Uganda Cancer Institute, PO Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda [9]