Title:
Practices of Mammography Screening and Predictive Factors of Mammography Screening Behaviours Among Women in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State Nigeria

Authors:
MAKACHI, Monica Chinwa RN, ANARADO, Agnes Nonyem. RN, NWANKWO, Clementina Ukamaka RN, ANIECHE, John Emenike RN, Nigeria

Abstract:

Most Nigerian women with breast cancer are still diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease or when little or no benefit can be derived from any therapy. Identifying and understanding factors that predict mammography screening behaviours are primary to instituting measures to increase mammography screening, thereby enhancing early detection of breast cancer and reduction in mortality from the disease. This study investigated Mammography screening practices and the predictive factors of mammography screening behaviour among women in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State Nigeria      Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of 425 women was drawn from total population of 77,926 women aged 15-69 years using the formula for calculating sample size for descriptive study by Fox, Hunn & Mathers. Multistage and random sampling techniques were applied in selecting the respondents for the study. A validated Breast Cancer Screening Questionnaire (BCSQ) with a reliability index of 0.92 was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed in percentages, mean and standard deviation. Null hypotheses were tested using Chi-Square and Fishers’ Exact tests, at alpha level of p<0.05.  The results showed that the practice of mammography screening was low (5.9%). Significant predictors of mammography were age (p=0.038), level of education (P= 0.036) while parity and place of residence are not predictive factors to their mammography screening practices (P=0.199 and 0.289) respectively. Researchers concluded that there is need for more education of the women on mammography screening practices.