HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIORS OF WOMEN WITH ADVANCED BREAST CANCER IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA
Date
2019-05-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Background: The survival rate of breast cancer in Nigerian women is low (56%). It has been observed in the empirical literature that Nigerian women present with advanced stages of breast cancer. The presentation of breast cancer at the advanced stages, reduces the options available to the women for the management of the illness, which had contributed to the low survival rate. Little is known about the health-seeking behaviors of women after they observed breast changes, how they interpreted and managed their breast changes and the factors they believe influence their health-seeking activities.
Purpose and Objectives: The aims of the study were to explore the health-seeking behaviors of women with advanced stages of breast cancer in Southwestern Nigeria and the factors that influenced them in engaging in specific health-seeking activities from their perspectives. The advanced stages of breast cancer were defined as Stage III or stage IV breast cancer.
Methods: Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the University of Saskatchewan’s Behavioral Research Ethics Board and the Joint Research Committee of University of Ibadan and University College Hospital Ibadan. Using purposeful sampling techniques, 30 women who were all diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer were recruited as the study participants. The Health Belief Model (HBM), provided the conceptual framework, and interpretive description (ID) a qualitative research approach, was used to explore the health-seeking behaviors and the factors that influenced the study participants to engage in these health-seeking behaviors. Using semi-structured open-ended questions and non-leading prompts, I engaged the study participants in free discussions in which they described their health-seeking behaviors, and factors they believed influenced and motivated them to engage or not to engage in specific health-seeking activities, for the treatment of breast ill-health. A demographic form, which was personally completed by each participant, was used to obtain the participants’ demographic information. The demographic information of the study participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics while the interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: The main outcome of this dissertation research suggests that women in Southwestern Nigeria suffering from breast cancer have unique perceptions of breast cancer as a life-threatening illness that few people survive, may misinterpret breast changes perhaps due to poor knowledge of breast cancer symptoms, and seek divine intervention to manage the advanced stages of breast cancer. This study uncovered the women’s personal and cultural beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer. It also generated information that provided deeper understanding of their health-seeking behaviors, as well as pertinent factors that influence Southwestern Nigerian women suffering from breast cancer in their health seeking for the management of the illness. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study provided insight into how nurses can optimally and comprehensively manage breast cancer perceived to be a life-threatening illness that few people survive. This study also advanced the use of a qualitative approach to inquiry in seeking to explore and understand the health-seeking behaviors of women presenting with advanced breast cancer in Southwestern Nigeria, on which empirical literature had been scarce. It is hoped that this new understanding will contribute to the holistic nursing management of breast cancer that could result in improved treatment outcomes of the illness among women in Southwestern Nigeria.
Description
Keywords
Women, Advanced stages of breast cancer, Health Belief Model, Interpretive Description, health-seeking behavior, Southwestern Nigeria, Nigeria.
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Nursing
Program
Nursing