AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, ZARIA, NIGERIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Breast cancer remains a major global public health challenge, with annual incidence projected to exceed three million cases worldwide. In Nigeria, delay in health-seeking behavior for breast cancer is common and is largely associated with poor awareness and negative perceptions of the disease, leading to poor prognosis and increased mortality. This study assessed awareness, perception, and their influence on health-seeking behavior among women diagnosed with breast cancer attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. The study population comprised 115 women diagnosed with breast cancer attending the oncology unit of the hospital. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique, while the hospital, oncology clinic and ward were purposively selected. Only consenting breast cancer patients were recruited for the study. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire containing 26 items in three sections. The instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.76. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 and summarized using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that 55.0% of respondents had good awareness of breast cancer, while 70.5% demonstrated positive perceptions toward the breast cancer and its management. The findings further shows that increased awareness and perception may contribute to better health-seeking behaviors, and adherence to recommended treatment. Government-led awareness campaigns through radio, television, social media, and local languages are recommended to sustain awareness and positive perceptions. Collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, professional bodies, religious institutions, community leaders, and healthcare providers is necessary to strengthen breast cancer control interventions and promote early detection, prompt treatment, and improved patient outcomes.