Background: Cancer generally, describes malignant growth in tissues of which carcinoma is of the epithelial and sarcoma of connective tissue origin as in bones and muscles. Breast cancer incidences, pattern of presentation and survival rates vary worldwide. High incidence, advanced stage disease presentation and low survival rates causes worry, with recent data suggesting that health behavior may be influenced by knowledge level about breast cancer.
Aim: To determine breast cancer knowledge among newly diagnosed female clients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Methods: The cross sectional study was descriptive, capturing new female clients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from geographically distinct territories of vast Ashanti and Northern Ghana. Data on social and demographic background, knowledge on; causes, predisposing factors, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention of breast cancer were obtained after seeking consent and using self-structured close ended questionnaire.
Results: 150 filled questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 12. Majority (62.0%) of respondents was <40 years old, 24.0% had > 10 and 31.7% had > 14 years of education. Only 16.9% had “high” while 13.9% had “poor” and 69.2% had “moderate” knowledge scores about breast cancer. The knowledge scores and practice of BSE had a marginal positive association with education level (P = 0.055). The respondents had better knowledge of life time risk and association of early diagnosis with better chances of cure, but worse knowledge of risk factors as compared to women in educational institutions of other countries
Conclusions: Generally, respondents had moderate knowledge of breast cancer (P< 0.05). Diagnosis barriers, treatment and care can be addressed by increasing women’s awareness of breast cancer and the benefits of preventive behavior, and improving the quality and appropriateness of health care and counseling services for indigenous women and their families