Abstract
Poor outcomes for breast cancer in Ghana have been attributed to late presentation of symptoms at biomedical facilities. This study explored factors accounting for delays in initiation of breast cancer treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Focus group discussions were conducted with 20 women with breast cancer. A theory-driven thematic analysis identified three multilevel factors influencing treatment seeking delays: (1) patient (e.g. misinterpretation of symptoms, fear), (2) healthcare provider (e.g. negative attitudes) and (3) health systems (e.g. shortage of medicines). Addressing treatment delays will require multilevel interventions, including culturally congruent education, psychosocial counselling/support and strengthening health systems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 357-366 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Health Psychology |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2021 |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Keywords
- Ghana
- breast cancer
- healthcare provider attitudes
- healthcare systems
- illness perception
- treatment delays
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