IMPACT OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS ON THE PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER AMONGST NIGERIAN WOMEN

Title page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Certification/Approval page

Table of content

List of tables

List of figures

List of Appendices

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study
• Statement of the problem
• Objectives of the study
• Research questions
• Significance of the study
• Scope of the study
• Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Review of relevant literature

2.2 Conceptual review of literature

2.3 Empirical review of literature

2.4 Theoretical framework

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research design

3.2 Population of the study

3.3 Population sample

3.4 Sampling technique

3.5 Research instrument

3.6 Validity and reliability

3.7 Administration of instrument/data gathering procedure

3.8 Method of data analysis

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The human body is made up of trillions of living cells; the normal body cells grow, divide into new cells and die in an orderly way. During the early years of a person’s life, the normal cells divide faster to allow the person to grow, after the person becomes an adult, most of the cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries. Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer but they all start because of out of control growth of abnormal cells, the cancer cell growth is totally different from the normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells. Cancer cells can also invade or grow into other tissues, something that normal cells cannot do. Growing out of control and invading other tissues are what makes a cell a cancer cell and the cells becomes cancer cells because of damage to the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The DNA is in every cell and it directs all its actions. In a normal cell, when DNA gets damaged the cell either repairs the damage or the cell dies. Breast cancer cells can spread by breaking away from a breast tumor and they can as well travel through the blood vessels or lymph vessels in order to reach the other parts of the body, after spreading the cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues.

A growth that affects the breast tissue which may also affect the milk-producing ducts or the tubules carrying the milk is known as breast cancer, the two main histological types of breast cancer are: tubular and ductal carcinoma and it may occur in males though the incidence in females is much higher than in males. Increasing age, family history, genetic factors, obesity, early menstruation, late menopause and nulliparity are all recognized as the contributory factors. Some of the signs of breast cancer may include a palpable breast lump, nipple discharge and skin changes. Breast cancer prognosis and treatment depend on tumor-node-metastasis staging, lympho-vascular spread, histological grade, hormone receptor status, comorbidities and the patient’s menopausal status. Generally some of the treatment includes surgical removal of the breast tissue, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiotherapy. Over the past two decades, female breast cancer has become a major health concern in both poor and rich countries due to it’s high incidence and associated mortality. It has also been demonstrated that breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women residing in kwara state. More recently, it has been reported that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer affecting women worldwide with 1.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2012 representing 25% of all cancers in women and recording the second leading cause of death among women. Despite the fact that there is scary of data regarding breast cancer among the women, one can speculate that the incidence of breast cancer to be very high and is rising at a faster rate. In kwara state, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in females accounting for about 28% of female deaths. The high incidence of breast cancer may be attributed to the low level of awareness of the disease among the females and the cultural taboos associated with this disease. Furthermore, it has been concluded in one particular study that in most of the developing countries, patients will seek medical advice and treatment from such problem when it is in an advanced stage and little or no benefit can be expected from any sorts of therapy. The negative sociocultural perception of breast cancer, strong beliefs in traditional medicine and perhaps strong religious beliefs are the main reasons for the delay in the state. Early diagnosis of female breast cancer can be achieved by mass screening, mammography, Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) and Self-Breast Examination (SBE). Even though mammography is the best choice for screening, breast self-examination is also equally important and beneficial for mass awareness especially in a state with limited resources or in a country where health care system still needs a lot of reforms and rearrangement as in the case of a country like Nigeria. However lack of awareness, attitude and knowledge about the early detection of breast cancer and the benefits of screening tests is a real problem among women in developing countries and not very well documented. It has been reported that the public awareness of the importance of screening and early detection of breast cancer in women remains low although increasing efforts from the ministry of health, public and private health sectors in the country, media and healthcare providers increase awareness of the public on this disease. Preventive behavior is essential for reducing cancer mortality, knowledge is a necessary predisposing factor for behavioral change, knowledge also plays an important role in the improvement of health seeking behavior, knowledge may not only dramatically improve the attitude, disbelieve and misconception but it also consequently enhance screening practice. Besides, several studies also show that knowledgeable women and beliefs about breast cancer and it’s management may contribute significantly to medical help-seeking behaviors and increase their adherence to recommended breast cancer screening. Furthermore, understanding the factors that influence patients delay in seeking breast cancer treatment is therefore necessary to improve it’s treatment outcomes. It is crucial for healthcare providers to educate the public about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and engage in health awareness programs for breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Pharmacists as a member of health care team can also play an important role in the improvement of public awareness about breast cancer. Providing information regarding mammography, education about available screening tests for breast cancer and designing pamphlets for women of the available tests and explaining the risk factors of this disease were recognized as an important role of pharmacists in breast cancer community care. Fighting against cancers specially breast cancer is in the bottom of the priority list of the policy makers though breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Considering the fact that breast cancer has become a global health care concern, several studies have been conducted worldwide to investigate women’s knowledge and beliefs and explore their awareness about breast cancer.

• Statement of the problem

Several campaigns such as national breast cancer coalition and  breast cancer action have been organized in a bid to fight breast cancer, yet the current statistical data of maternal mortality resulting from breast cancer shows an increase. One of the major problem that has been identified as a cause of breast cancer among the women is the lack of knowledge about genetic risk factors for breast cancer, these explain the fact that breast cancer is not well understood by women and as such there is the need for information and enlightenment to ensure early presentation at the hospital. The National Breast Cancer Coalition, Breast Cancer Action and the Nigeria campaigners do not seem to know whether to attribute this increase in death rate to inefficiency in campaign message delivery or timing for target audience in campaign slots.  It is in view of this that the researcher intends to investigate the impact of breast cancer awareness on the prevention of breast cancer among Nigerian women.

• Objectives of the study

The main objective of the study is to ascertain the impact of breast cancer awareness or the prevention of breast cancer amongst Nigerian women in kwara state. However for the successful completion of the study, the following sub objectives were put forward by the researcher:

(i) To investigate the impact of breast cancer awareness program as a preventive tools of breast cancer.

(ii) To ascertain whether breast cancer awareness program has a significant effect in reducing death rate among women in Kwara state.

(iii) To ascertain the relationship between breast cancer awareness program and reduction in cancerous death rate in Kwara state.

(iv) To ascertain the role of breast cancer awareness in the reduction and control of infection rate?

1.4 Research question

For the successful completion of the study, the following research questions were formulated:

(i) What is the impact of breast cancer awareness program in preventing cancer among Kwara women?

(ii) Does breast cancer awareness program have any effect in the reduction of death rate?

(iii) Is there any relationship between breast cancer awareness program and reduction of cancerous death rate?

(iv) What is the role of breast cancer awareness program in the reduction and control of breast cancer infection rate in Kwara state?

1.5 Significance of the study

The study is of great importance to the media managers, health organization and agencies, academic community and the general public. From this study, media professionals who are involved in breast cancer campaigns will know the extent in which such campaigns influence knowledge, attitude and practice of the audience towards prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer, the study emphasized the need for aggressive campaigns relative to appropriate timing, simplicity of campaign messages and influence of the campaigns.

The findings of the study will also be of importance to the ministry of health and other health organizations and agencies as the findings will aid them to restrategized on a more rigorous approach to the awareness program.

Finally the study will be of great importance to academia, teachers, lecturers, students, and the general as the findings will also add to the knowledge bank.

1.6 Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study is to ascertain the impact of breast cancer awareness or the prevention of breast cancer amongst Nigerian women in kwara state. However, the study has some constrained and limitations which are:

(a)Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

(b)Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

(c)Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

• Definition of terms

Impact

The action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that develops from breast cells, it starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control cells, it usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt.

Awareness

Awareness is the ability to directly know and perceive, to feel or to be cognizant of events, it is the state or quality of being conscious of something.

Campaigns

These are media programmes that are aimed at fighting against breast cancer by informing women on the dangers and how it can be prevented, detected or treated

Influence

This refers to how the campaigns are able to bring about changes in the knowledge, attitude and practices among the women.

Attitude

The disposition of women towards breast cancer prevention, early detection and treatment.

Knowledge

The level of technical know-how of women on breast cancer campaigns relative to prevention, early detection and treatment.

Prevention

Prevention is an action or a set of actions designed to stop something before it actually occurs, it is the act or practice of stopping something bad from happening.

1.8 Organization of the study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion and also recommendations made of the study.

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